66 REPOET OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



winter. This applies to plants in rich, moist soil. Those placed in sandy 

 soil, poorer and drier, do not reach such dimensions, but will stand a 

 greater degree of cold. Succulent leaves and branches shrivel when the 

 thermometer falls to 30^, while the more rigidly-matured shoots of the 

 slow-growing plant have survived after being subjected to 12° of 

 frost. 



As a forest tree it will not flourish in this country north of the thirty- 

 fifth parallel of latitude, probably it will not succeed even up to this 

 point; but it is unnecessary to experiment with it in higher latitudes, so 

 far as pertains to hardiness. As to the sanitary value of the Eucalyptus, 

 evidence is accumulating to show that it has a tendency to lessen mala- 

 ria and destroy miasmatic poison. This has been largely attributed to 

 the great absorbent power of the roots, but this value would be equally 

 shared by other trees of similarly rapid growth, such as our strong- 

 growing poplars. It is no longer doubted that several species otEuca- 

 lyptug evaporate with water a volatile oil and a volatile acid, which 

 permeate the atmosphere and contribute to its invigorating and healthy 

 nature and character. 



The absence of malarial diseases in Eucalypti forests seems to be 

 well established, and as the planting of useful trees is not likely to be 

 overdone with us, these claims for special recognition are worthy of 

 consideration and encouragement. 



Of the genus Eucalyptus upward of one hundred species have been de- 

 scribed. Growing at differentelevations, and embracing in theirhabitats 

 many degrees of latitude, it is to be expected that some of the species 

 will resist cold better than others. The numerous species possess differ- 

 ent properties in the various oils, gums, and dyes which they furnish. 

 The iron-bark gum, the peppermint gum, the stringy-bark gum, the 

 curly gum, the red gum, and the sweet-scented gum, with many others, 

 are all equally worthy of introduction and trial. 



EUROPEAN OLIVE. 



The introduction of the olive into this country as an object of culture 

 dates back more than one hundred years, and during that time various 

 attempts have been made to revive and extend its culture, which have 

 in turn been abandoned, or at least have failed to maintain a permanent 

 increasing activity in the business. Various reasons may be adduced 

 for this failure. The length of time that elapses between the planting of 

 the trees and the securing of a crop, variously stated as being from 

 eight to twelve years, is so great as to cause olive-culture to give way 

 to that of more immediately remunerative crops. The difficulty in secur- 

 ing a sufficient supply of the most approved varieties, yielding fruits 

 best adapted to the respective uses to which they are applied, has also 

 had a decided influence in retarding olive-culture in this country. 



The olive is not a tender plant ; it is nearly, if not quite, as hardy as 

 the Chinese tea-plant. In a somewhat sheltered situation, without 

 special protection, both of these plants have been growing for several 

 years in the grounds of the Department, and annually increase in size. 



European authorities state that " the olive requires for ripening about 

 one-third more annual heat than the grape, and that the best localities 

 are those where the winter temperature does not fall below 18° F., but 

 that the plant will resist for a short time even 28^ of frost ; indicated 

 at 4P F. Long-continued droughts, so detrimental to most plants, will 

 affect the olive but slightly. It thrives best on a free, loamy, calcareous 



