EUCALYPTUS TREES FOR BEAUTY 247 



branchlets; February, March, April. Bark rough, fissured, reddish- 

 brown, very resinous, persistent, contrasting well with the foliage. 

 Growth (time and conditions as above) height 37 feet, girth 39 inches. 

 Wood of very superior quality. A tree of many attractions. 



E. ficifolia. The scarlet flowered gum, a gorgeous sight indeed 

 when in bloom; moderate sized tree, foliage dark green, glossy; not a 

 fast grower and not compact and symmetrical in habit, but a marvel 

 with red bloom and large brown seed capsules. It bears its huge pin- 

 nacles of brilliant flowers after the second or third year, remaining a 

 long time in bloom. 



E. crebra narrow-leaved, iron-bark; remarkably tall and slender; 

 bark is thick, rough and persistent; foliage feathery, drooping; very 

 ornamental. 



Eucalyptus seedlings can be quite readily grown by soaking the 

 seed a few hours in warm water and sowing in boxes in sandy loam 

 soil. (See page 60.) The seed should be covered very lightly indeed 

 and the soil kept continually moist, but not wet, and it should have a 

 fair amount of heat, but not direct sunshine. The seedlings can be 

 planted out when they attain a height of 8 or 10 inches. 



Ficus. This is a very quick-growing and ornamental genus of trees, 

 including those known as rubber trees. They are useful where shade is 

 desired; also, if the concealment of any undesirable objects is con- 

 cerned. They are all hardy in most coast and valley situations and 

 can be grown without irrigation, usually. Microphylla is one of the 

 most vigorous growers. 



Ginkgo. The Ginkgo or maidenhair tree is the sacred tree of Japan 

 and China, and some excellent specimens are found in California. It 

 is of rather slow growth, but is interesting on account of its historical 

 association and its foliage which resembles that of a maidenhair fern. 

 In the autumn the leaves turn a beautiful clear golden color, lasting so 

 for some weeks before falling. 



Grcvillea. Among evergreens, Grevillea robusta, the Australian 

 silky oak, is admirable for its quick and pyramidal growth, as well as 

 for the elegance of its fernlike foliage, and the profusion of its orange- 

 colored blossoms, was it not for the brittleness of its branches in loca- 

 tions much exposed to the wind. In a sheltered place it is a great 

 beauty. 



Locust. The old-fashioned locust, which makes a dense shade and 

 produces a wealth of large fragrant blossoms, will always claim con- 

 sideration as a shade tree and is ever likely to be chosen for hot and 

 dry situations where other trees may fail. Nothing seems to be too 

 hard for it. 



Lindens. In Germany the tilia is known as linden; in England, 

 lime-tree, and in the United States, bass-wood. The European species 



