Culture of Eucalyptus in Algeria. 



M 



marvel is that, growintj; Avitli tie rapidity it does, the Eucalyptus should 

 produce at the same time hard and deuce timber. A short time ago, 

 wishing to seud a Eucalyptus tree of four or five years of age to England 

 for experiment, it was found impossible, on account of its great length, 

 to put it into u boat to convey it to the steamer. Tlie boatman naturally 

 decided on towing it alongside, but the moment he put it into the sea 

 it sank to the bottom, and divers had to be employed to raise it. "When 

 pro[)erly seasoned its specific gravi'y l:)ecomcs less, and it tlien floats on 

 water. 



To illustrate the quality of the timber, I may instance the case of a 

 vessel, the Marie, of 230 tons burden, which entered the port of 

 Algiers with a cargo of timber in 1875. It was built in jMclbourne in 

 1848, the hull being of blue gum {Eucalyptus gJohulus), and the interior 

 fittings of red gum {Eucali/ptus resinfera). At twenty-seven years of age 

 it was still rated by the Bureau Veritas as of the first class. 



Rate of Groivth. — The first trees ever planted in Algeria were sown in 

 1S62. The following table shows the dimension of these and of others 

 planted subsequently, taken in September, 1874, l)y M. Trottier : — 



These results were obtained not under the most favourable circum- 

 stances. During the last few days I measured one, planted in deep and 

 fresh alluvial soil, nine years of age, and 1-57 metres in circumference, 

 about six inches more than I could embrace with both arms. In Australia 

 the mean height of very old trees is said to be between CO and 70 metres, 

 and their mean circumference from 6 to 8 metres. 



Pecuniary Results of Flantation. — M. Trottier gives the following as the 

 pecuniary results he thinks obtainable from a hectare of land planted with 

 Eucalyptus : — 



