Culhirc of E^tcalyptiis in Algeria. 367 



Species of Eucalijplus. — The number of species of Eucalyptus is infinite, 

 but for the purposes of commerce two, or perhaps three species only should 

 be cultivated. The first, the Eucalyptus fjhhuJus, or blue gum, is best 

 suited to vrarm positions, deep fresh and moist soil. The second, Eu- 

 ccili/ptus resin/era, or red gum, resists drought in a remarkable manner, 

 and should be used in poorer or drier soil, or at greater altitudes than the 

 other. It is hardly probable, however, that either of them will thrive well 

 at a greater altitude than 200 or 300 metres above the level of the sea. 

 The third species, which promises well, is the EucciJyptus colossca, but 

 hitherto our experience of it is limited, and we have not sufficient data ou 

 which to calculate its rate of growth. 



Scuiitury Effects of Eucalyptus. — There is another point of view from 

 which the cultivation of Eucalyptus must be regarded, namely, its action 

 in improving the sanitary condition of unhealthy districts, and in dis- 

 sipating miasmatic influences, which created such havoc amongst the 

 colonists ill the first years after the conquest. 



To place this sul)ject as far as possible beyond doubt, an inquiry was 

 instituted by the Society of Physical and Katural Sciences at Algiers, 

 under the presidency of Dr. Berthcrand, and reports were received 

 from thirty localities, extracts from a very few of which only are here 

 given. 



Eucalyptus at LaJce Fctzara. — In 18G0, G0,000 young trees of Eucalyptus 

 globulus were planted on the banks of Lake Fetzara, near Bune ; now they 

 have attained the height of 7 or 8 metres each, and have produced a very 

 marked effect on the locality. 



Such was the feverish condition of this district on the annual fall of the 

 water and the denudation of its banks, that the Director of the Jardin 

 d'Essai, who went to examine the condition of the plants, was immediately 

 seized with a violent fever, which lasted twenty days. That same gentleman 

 now reports that the miasmatic influences which affected him so strongly 

 there have disappeared, and the mosquitoes which rendered the place unin 

 habitable have disappeared with them. 



Eucalyptus at MoJcta el-Hculid. — Formerly it was impossible for the 

 workmen at the great iron mines of Mokta el-Hadid to remain there 

 during summer; those who attempted to do so died, and the company was 

 obliged to take the labourers to the mines by train every morning and to 

 carry them back to Bune every night, a distance of 33 kilos, each way. 

 From 1S68 to 1870 the company planted more than 100,000 Eucalyptus, 

 and now the workmen are able to live all the year through on the scene of 

 their labour. The entire works and the railway leading to them are 

 bordered wiih thick belts of these trees, and each of the miners has his 

 cottage and kitchen-garden surrounded with them. 



Eucatyptus at the Maison Cark. — At the mill of St, Corinne, belonging 

 to the late M. Sauliere, at the Maison Carue, near Algiers, a marsh situated 

 to the south of it rendered the place uninhabitable at certain seasons of 

 the year. 



M. Sauliere, in despair at having to renew his workmen every two 



