USES OF EUCALYPTS. 37 



hence the Blue Gum among the Eucalypts has been most used for this 

 purpose. (PI. V, a.) 



The Manna Gum {Eucalyptus vbminalis), the species approaching 

 the Blue Gum most closely in rapidity of growth, has also been cut 

 considerably for fuel. Other species making a slower growth produce 

 a harder wood and better fuel. For some years Mr. Cooper has been 

 cutting stove wood for the Santa Barbara market from his Red Gum 

 (E. ro&trata) and Red Ironbark (E. skleroxylon) groves, and finds the 

 fuel from them superior to that from the Blue Gum. (PI. V. b.) 

 When other species become more generally known, or when plantings 

 now made have reached a sufficient age, undoubtedly several species 

 will be found better adapted for fuel than the now much-used Blue 

 Gum. But at present that is the fuel tree of much of the State of 

 California. (PL VI, a.) 



When set for fuel the young trees are commonly planted either 

 8 by 8 or 6 by 10 feet apart. Rows 10 feet apart with trees 6 feet apart 

 in the rows give a few more trees to the acre, and leave more space 

 between the rows for driving with a wagon. Formerly some growers 

 planted closer — either 1 by 1 or 1 by 8 feet— and cut out the trees as 

 they increased in size, until they were left the distance apart they 

 desired them to be permanently. But so much difficulty was experi- 

 enced in preventing the growth of the trees desired to be eliminated 

 that the practice has been almost entirely abandoned. The young 

 trees are commonly cultivated for about two years after being set out. 



In California some of the best agricultural land is used for growing 

 Blue Gum wood for market, usually in groves of from 10 to 40 acres. 

 Not only are these groves profitable, but they add much to a landscape 

 which without them was quite monotonous. Land unsuitable for til- 

 lage—hillsides, ravines, and rocky plains— is also much utilized. In 

 such cases the return from the fuel produced is practically a cleai 

 gain. In July, li>0<>, the writer's attention was attracted to a grove 

 of Eucalypts near Pasadena, Cal. Subsequently, in response to an 

 inquiry as to the age of the grove, Mr. H. F. Shorting wrote as 

 follows: 



The Eucal)/j>t us globulus grove is 12 years old, and is in t lie worst sort of soil, for 

 grapes, oranges, lemons, and barley have all failed. It is an old river bed. It was 

 cut one year ago, and they are far better looking trees now than they were before 

 being cut. (PI. VII, a.) 



There is undoubtedly much land in the Southwest now considered 

 too pool- for growing any crop that might profitably be sot to fuel- 

 producing groves <>t' Eucalypts. 



When 5 to T years old. groves of Blue Gum or Manna Gum may be 

 cut to the ground for fuel, and they may be cut every six or eight 

 years thereafter. 'Hie yield from each cutting is commonly 50 to 75 

 cords of 4-foot wood per acre. One L7-acre grove between L<>^ 



