EUCALYPTUS NEAR ROME. 33 



there is abundant low land where it is required, and where 

 it will grow. 



The value claimed for the Eucalyptus is intelligible if we 

 consider it as continually giving out a medical agent. So 

 far as we know, this medical agent, when constantly in- 

 haled, has no unfavourable effect — a result not very usual ; 

 but it is difficult to compare it with others, because in no 

 case can we take medicine in doses so minute, constant, and 

 equable. There is room here for a very interesting inquiry. 

 One virtue claimed for the tree is not so clear — namely, 

 its drying up of swamps. This has been accounted for by 

 its wonderful rapidity of growth ; but I do not hear that it 

 requires wet ground to grow upon, and am told that it 

 grows in Australia in very dry places. 



M. Bosisto mentions cool refreshing draughts of water 

 obtained from the trunk of the dwarf trees in the region of 

 the river Murray. One would be glad to hear more on 

 this point. These dwarfs are only 25 feet high. 



A paper read before the Royal Society of Victoria by 

 J. Bosisto shows a great variation in the amount of oil. 

 He says the E. odorata yields 7 fluid ounces from 2000 lb. 

 of leaves attached to small branchlets. 



viminalis the same. 



rostrata 15 ounces, 



obliqua 80 



globulus 120 



sideroxylon 160 



oleosa 200 



amydalina 500 



I suppose these numbers to represent the total amount 

 of oils and resins. 



In a report on the strength of wood, published by the 

 Science-and-Art Department, Kensington, the Eucalyptus 



SER. III. VOL. VI. D 



