130 THE PRINCIPAL SPECIES OF WOOD, 



The genus may thus be summarized from the point of view 

 of the living tree and from that of the wood. 



Trees grow rapidly; some grow where those of other species will not; some 

 form wind- brakes and forest cover; some serve in landscape effects; some afford 

 honey; * many yield oils.f The hard wood timbers present an unusual range of 

 possibilities. McClatchie quotes twenty-five special purposes to which eucalyptus 

 woods have been applied in Australia. Six species are valued for bridge timbers, 

 five for piles, nine for paving, eight for posts, three for railway ties, four for car 

 building, five for lumber and shingles, seven for carriage parts, two for cooperage, 

 and two for handles. The American demands are thus far principally for fuel, \ 

 posts, parts of farm implements, and pins for insulators on long distance transmis- 

 sion cables. Blue gum piles have been successfully employed at Santa Barbara 

 and Ocean-side. 



Eucalyptus trees are characterized by leathery evergreen 

 foliage of many tints, such as blue, gray and green. The leaves 

 of young and old trees sometimes differ. Those of young blue- 

 gums are bright blue, oval and stalkless, while older leaves have 

 stems, are dark green and sickle-shaped. The characteristic 

 odor is the only point in common between the young and old 

 foliage of this species. It may be added that the foliage and 

 young twigs of all species possess a more or less pronounced 

 odor due to the presence of oils. The nomenclature is very con- 

 fusing. There are eight "iron barks," nine "red gums," eleven 

 "stringy-barks" and twelve "blue gums," so that botanical 

 names must be preferred. Eucalyptus refers to portions of the 

 flowers and means "well concealed." The nearly one hundred 

 and fifty species are all evergreens. 



* Trees blossom during droughts when other flowers are scarce. Some species 

 blossom twice a year. Flowers are always seen on some of the species. The 

 Red and Sugar Gums (E. rostrata and E. corynocalyx) are notably rich in honey. 



t Oils differ with species and, as first separated, are mixtures. Six-tenths of 

 the product from the Blue Gum is a substance known as Eucalyptol. E. citrio- 

 dora yields a citron-scented oil, E. amygdalina is very prolific. 



J The Blue, Manna and Red Gums and the Red Iron Bark are all systemati- 

 cally cultivated for fuel in Southern California. Blue Gum and Manna Gum are 

 ready for cutting at the end of six or seven years. 



Works of Baron von Muller; Report J. Ednie-Brown, Forest Commissioner 

 Western Australia; Correspondence M. Francis Chapman, Esq., London; The 

 Forester; Work of Abbot Kinney, Press Baumgardt & Co., Los Angeles, U. S. 

 Forestry Bulletin No. n. The useful American sources, "McClatchie, U. S. 

 Forestry Bulletin No. 35," and Ingham, Calif. State Ag. Exp. Sta. Bui. No. 196, 

 are particularly acknowledged. 



