AOmCULTURAL BULLETIN 



5TRAIT5 



FEDERATED riALA/ 5TATE5. 



No. 5.] 



MAY, 1912. 



[Vol. 1 



THE EUCALYPTUS. 



From time to time a considerable number of letters appear in 

 the local papers commenting on the desirability of planting varieties 

 of the Eucalyptus as suitable roadside trees, and also, on account of 

 their supposed value in purifying localities where severe fevers are 

 prevalent. 



We have received many letters asking for advice on the same 

 subjects, and in order to give a general answer to all such correspon- 

 dents, I shall endeavour to outline the success which has attended the 

 efforts of this Department, to introduce any of the Eucalyptus family. 



A Few General Characteristics of Eucalypts. 



As is probably well known, the Eucalyptus or Eucalypts are natives 

 of Australia and a few of the adjacent Islands. The genus is a 

 large one, comprising over 1 50 species. Many of the species are trees 

 varying in height — some of them being amongst the largest in the 

 World, while others are small shrubs which thrive in desert and 

 alpine regions. A number of ^the species are vigorous growers. 

 The Blue Gum ( Eucalyptus globulus) is one of the fastest growing of 

 the genus. 



From the middle of the last century, the Eucalypts have been dis- 

 tributed all over the World with various degrees of success. As is only 

 to be expected, the mijst marked success ha*; been attained in coun- 

 tries having a somewhat similar climate to Australia. Eucalypts have 

 been successfully established in Algeria, South Africa, on the Nilghiri 

 and Palui Hills and in North and South America. It is interesting to 

 note that during the last few years, the chief product of the Eucalvjits 

 i.e., Eucalyi^tus Oil has largely been produced in California. 



