HARDWOOD RECORD 



25 



Eucalt^ptus Promotion 



The analjgis of eucalyptus promotion en- 

 terprises made by Hardwood Record a year 

 ago, and which has received further notice 

 in the issues of July 10 and 25 last, is at- 

 tracting wide attention on the part of both 

 eucalyptus promoters and actual or prospec- 

 tive investors in these enterprises. 



The Record never has contended that eu- 

 calyptus-growing is entirely without merit, 

 but it does contend that as yet there has 

 been no demonstration of commercial profit 

 in the growing of any of the types of this 

 Australian wood in this country. 



The trouble with eucalyptus promoters, 

 oven the most conservative of them, is that 

 they are emotional in their claims, not only 

 concerning the wood but the cost of its 

 growth and its commercial prospects as a 

 money-making enterprise generally. These 

 companies don't seem to care to tell the 

 whole truth of the matter. They quote ex- 

 cerpts from the government Forest Service 

 reports and from trade papers, but omit 

 everything that is not entirely friendly to 

 their enterprises. 



Example of Methods 



As an example of its method of doing 

 things, one of these companies recently 

 printed in one of its pamphlets the second 

 paragraph of the following article which was 

 written by that dean of the lumber newspaper 

 fraternity, Leonard Bronson, and published 

 in the American Lumberman of March 20, 

 1909. A reading of the article will show 

 that a reproduction of this one paragraph 

 did not in any wise reflect Mr. Bronson 's 

 opinion on the subject of eucalyptus. 



Kegarding the eucalyptus craze, which Is 

 rapidly spreading through the country, a note 

 of combined warning and encouragement seems 

 timely. 



It is probably true that land can be devoted 

 to no other use that will be so profitable as 

 the growing of eucalyptus, if the climate and 

 land are both suitable. Under proper condi- 

 tions a eucalyptus plantation should begin to 

 pay after five or six years, and within ten or 

 twelve years should be yielding enormous net 

 profits, exceeding anything that can be secured 

 from a citrous crop, any horticultural crop, or 

 even truck gardening. The probabilities thus 

 expressed seem lilie a dream, so tremendous are 

 the figures of yield and almost certain profits. 



But having given that general indorsement, 

 the proviso named at the beginning of the pre- 

 ceding paragraph should be emphasized and en- 

 larged upon. There are signs that eucalyptus 

 schemes are going to be presented to the public 

 with nothing but wind back of them, which will 

 yield phenomenal profits to their promoters but 

 heavy losses to those who invest their money. 



First of all, in considering a eucalyptus propo- 

 sition, is the application of common sense, 

 knowledge and experience, either of the in- 

 vestor or of someone in whom he has confi- 

 dence. We fear that many people, within the 

 next few years are going to invest their money 

 in eucalyptus prospectuses and handsomely pre- 

 pared stock certificates, deeds and contracts, in- 

 stead of real eucalyptus properties. 



What the wise Investor will do will be to 

 intiulre, first, as to the climate. Eucalyptus 

 will not grow where the temperature ever goes 

 10 degrees below the freezing point. 



The second point to be considered is the 



soil. Once established, with its roots reaching 

 down to perpetual moisture, the eucalyptus 

 will thrive amazingly. It will grow on what at 

 the surface appears to be a desert, but it must 

 have water. In such localities it must be Ir- 

 rigated at the start, and unless it can reach 

 subirrigation it must be irrigated continuously. 



The third point Is the character or food con- 

 tents of the soil. It must be at least fairly good 

 soli. Alfalfa land is usually good eucalyptus 

 land, if the water be not too far down. 



Fourth, is the question of species and the 

 certainty of securing the proper species when 

 the land is planted. 



Fifth, Is the assurance of proper care of a 

 plantation during the first two or three years 

 of its life. 



Two chief species present themselves to the 

 grower — eucalvptus globulus and eucalyptus 

 rosata. They are different in characteristics 

 and utility, though both are strong, hard and 

 heavy. 



The globulus Is perhaps the more rapid grower 

 and Is adaptable for piling, but is not so good 

 as the other in contact with the soil. Rosata 

 Is a wood which. In spite of its hardness, will, 

 before long, be In demand for furniture, cabi- 

 net making, interior finish, as well as for railway 

 ties, posts and the like. Both are magnificent 

 timbers and, furthermore, are valuable for fuel, 

 which is an important item in California, Ari- 

 zona, New Mexico and other sections, if any 

 there be, where the climate will allow of their 

 growth. 



Other species of the eucalyptus are valuable, 

 and as we become better acquainted with them, 

 may be preferred for specific purposes to either 

 of those particularly mentioned. 



The broad advice to our readers who may be 

 approached on eucalyptus propositions is, first, 

 not to turn down any of them simply because 

 the profits talked about seem impossible ; but, 

 second, to examine not only the character of 

 the promoters as to their integrity but as to 

 their knowledge of the business ; then examine 

 independently the climate, soil and, particularly, 

 the water supply. Lastly, in connection with 

 the deal, provision must be made for proper 

 care and oversight. 



General Newspaper Publicity 



As an example of the general newspaper 

 publicity that the eucalyptus promoters are 

 securing, attention is called to the following 

 article by John L. Cowan, clipped from the 

 Sunday supplement magazine which accom- 

 panies quite a number of metropolitan news- 

 papers: 



Of the diversification of the ancient and hon- 

 orable Industry of farming, there appears to 

 be no end. Like Alexander, the farmer con- 

 tinually sighs for new worlds to conquer; but, 

 unlike Alexander, he finds it easy to gratify 

 his longing by exploiting some new outlet for 

 his activities. 



To enumerate all the new farming industries 

 that have been inaugurated within recent years 

 would be difllcult. Probably none is more Im- 

 portant than timber farming, which is attain- 

 ing great prominence in California and Is be- 

 ing experimented with In Arizona and other 

 parts of the Southwest. 



To grow trees for profit, as men are ac- 

 customed to grow cabbages and potatoes, or 

 even peaches and apples, is Impossible or un- 

 attractive in most parts of the country, and 

 with most varieties of timber, on account of 

 the long period of time required for the crop 

 to reach maturity. Yet It has been found that 

 the eucalyptus tree (an importation from Aus- 

 tralia) will yield quicker, and often much larger, 

 returns than can be expected from orchards. 



and that a eucalyptus plantation can be so 

 conserved as to be a large producer Indefinitely. 



Six hundred trees are planted to the acre. 

 When the trees are three or four years old the 

 first cutting Is made, the small, crooked, and 

 otherwise imperfect trees being removed and cut 

 into cordwood, which sells at fourteen dollars 

 a cord in Los Angeles and other cities of Cali- 

 fornia where other fuel is scarce and high- 

 priced. Every year thereafter the grove is 

 thinned out to give the trees left standing a 

 better opportunity for growth. The successive 

 cuttings are used for firewood, fence posts, 

 railroad ties, piling, bridge timbers, ship masts 

 and .sawmill timber, the use being determined 

 by the size of the trees. 



The eucalyptus is one of the most valuable 

 of known hardwoods, and is used for any pur- 

 pose, from the making of Implement handles 

 to the manufacture of piano cases. It is said 

 to be the fastest growing tree in the world, as 

 trees twenty years old frequently attain a height 

 of 175 feet and a diameter of five feet. When 

 cut down, new shoots quickly spring up from 

 the, old root, and in a few years these produce 

 a new crop of timber. 



Owing to the growing scarcity of hardwoods 

 and the increasing difficulty of obtaining lumber 

 at a reasonable price, the Santa Fe railroad has 

 purchased eight thousand acres of land near 

 San Diego and is planting It In eucalyptus trees, 

 in order to provide for its future supply of ties. 

 Numerous plantation companies have been 

 formed to plant eucalyptus trees on a large 

 scale, and many individuals are planting groves : 

 so that the production of timber seems destined 

 to become one of the most Important of Cali- 

 fornia's many activities. 



This glowing account of eucalyptus possi- 

 bilities doubtless went into the hands of a 

 million readers ten days ago. 



From an Eucalyptus Grower 



As before noted, it is the desire of Hard- 

 wood Record to give legitimate eucalyptus 

 proirioters, if such there be, an absolutely 

 square deal on the subject which apparently 

 lies near their hearts, but more than likely 

 nearer their pocketbooks. Therefore, it gives 

 place to the following letter from J. J. 

 Welch, president of the American Corpora- 

 tion for Investors, 71 Broadway, New York 

 City: 



New York, July 27, 1910. — Dear Mr. Gibson : 

 I have read with much interest- the article In 

 the July lOtb issue of the Hardwood Record 

 in discussion of the eucalyptus Industry. 



I wonder if it ever occurred to you that there 

 were eucalyptus growers as well as eucalyptus 

 promoters — in other words. Individuals and or- 

 ganizations, with long experience in the grow- 

 ing and marketing of hardwood, ample capi- 

 tal and resources, who, after careful investiga- 

 tion and experiment, were placing the industry 

 on a business basis? For your information, 

 this condition exists. 



This corporation is identified and associated 

 with the Eucalyptus Timber Corporation of Los 

 Angeles, the pioneers and leaders in the com- 

 mercial culture of eucalyptus. We have grow- 

 ing between 4,000 and 5,000 acres of eucalyptus, 

 ranging from six months to three years of age. 

 We have chosen probably the best soil in Cali- 

 fornia for the growth of the tree, and have 

 applied modern forestry methods under the 

 direction of expert foresters to our operations. 



We have gone very exhaustively Into every 

 phase of eucalyptus culture, and feel that we 

 are entitled to some recognition. 



We join heartily with you, the National For- 

 estry Service and all conservative thinking 



