PROPAGATION AND CARE OF EUCALYPTS. 45 



are propagated from the seed with great difficulty. For example, the 

 Red Gum {Eucalyptus rostrata), which grows quite well in southern 

 Arizona from seedlings obtained from California, is propagated at 

 Phoenix from seed with considerable difficult}'. The case is similar 

 to that of the orange tree, which, though thriving in the vicinity of 

 Phoenix can not be easily grown there from seed. As a rule, however, 

 Eucalypts that are well adapted to a region and thrive in it seem to 

 be fairly easy to propagate there. The ease with which seedlings 

 can be grown in any region may often, therefore, be taken as an 

 indication of how well the adult trees will grow there. 



Eucalypts are not commonly propagated in open soil, but in seed 

 boxes, and ordinarily they need some protection from cold and from 

 the sun during their early stages. Most species make a slow growth 

 at first and are quite delicate, but when once fairly established they 

 grow very rapidly. 



PLANTING THE SEED. 



The usual method of starting Eucalypts is to sow the seed in shallow 

 boxes in especially prepared soil. A mixture of coarse sand and leaf- 

 mold (two parts of mold to one of sand) is the best. This is placed in 

 boxes a few inches deep; the seed is strewn quite thickly over the sur- 

 face; a light covering of sand is placed on top, and this surface is then 

 kept constantly moist. The young plants commonly appear in one or 

 two weeks. After germination has taken place the soil should be kept 

 moist but not wet. If kept too damp the young plants will be attacked 

 by parasitic fungi and perish rapidly— " damp off,' 1 as gardeners term 

 it. Applying the water about the middle of the forenoon, so that the 

 soil and plants have time to become partially dry before night, is a 

 precaution helpful in preventing damping off. In the experience of 

 the writer there is nothing better for freshly sown seed, or for young 

 plants, than a watering by a rainfall. Leaving the seed boxes out 

 during a light rain will often start seed that artificial watering for 

 weeks has failed to bring up, and young plants are very much refreshed 

 and invigorated by a shower of rain. 



Before transplanting it is well to harden the young plants by giving 

 them only sufficient water to prevent wilting during the heat of the 

 day. After a week or so, when they have become more woody, water 

 should he applied freely for a few days, and they will then be in a 

 better condition for transplanting than if this treatment is omitted. 



TRANSFERRING TO FRESH SOIL. 



When the young seedlings arc -2 or ?> inches high, they should be 

 transplanted into Hats of fresh soil, putting in the plants about 2 

 inches apart each way. (PI. IX. a.) This soil may contain Lesssandand 

 more leaf mold than the seed bed. A mixture of leaf mold, sand, and 



