EUCALYPTUS 567 



the results likely to be attained, but there is now no doubt whatever that 

 a spacing of 9 ft. by 9 ft. is preferable to one of 6 ft. by 6 ft., and that there 

 is no occasion to plant closer than 8 ft. by 8 ft. ; these wider spacings not only 

 give equally good, if not better results, but also reduce the cost of formation 

 considerably. As regards other species and conditions, accurate information 

 is wanting as to the best spacings to adopt in India. Generally speaking, 

 however, wide spacings, say 8 ft. by 8 ft. to 10 ft. by 10 ft., are indicated on 

 good soils, and for species which grow vigorously and tend to form clean boles, 

 while closer spaciiigs are necessary on poor soils and for species which develop 

 more slowly and tend to branch low. It is doubtful if a spacing of less 

 than 6 ft. by 6 ft. is ever indicated in India if a plantation is to prove 

 profitable. 



Subsequent tending. For the first year, or sometimes two years, it may 

 be necessary to protect the young plants from frost by means of cowls of grass 

 or bracken. Hand watering is not ordinarily practicable under forest con- 

 ditions on a large scale ; most eucalypts, however, respond to irrigation. 

 Thinnings first become necessary as a rule from the sixth to the tenth year, 

 and the effect of regular thinnings on the yield and on the subsequent develop- 

 ment of the crop is most marked. 



System of working. So far as India is concerned, the Nilgiri blue gum 

 plantations are the only ones which have as yet been worked regularly, the 

 system adopted being for the most part simple coppice for the production 

 of fuel : hitherto the rotation adopted has been ten years, but this has recently 

 been increased to fifteen years. A few of the less accessible plantations have 

 been left as high forest to be felled later, and as far as can be foreseen the 

 best method of regeneration will be by clear-felHng and replanting. Coppice- 

 with-standards has been tried in the Nilgiris, but the results were unsatisfactory 

 owing to the poor growth of the coppice, and this system has been abandoned 

 in the Government plantations. Some further details regarding the working 

 of the Nilgiri plantations will be found below under E. Globulus. 



Particulars regarding species. Information regarding most of the 

 species which have hitherto been tried in India is given below. Particulars 

 as to the characters and occurrence of these trees in their natural home have 

 been taken mainly from von Mueller's Eucalyptographia, Maiden's Critical 

 Revision of the Genus Eucalyptus and Flora of New South Wales, Baker and 

 Smith's Research on the Eucalypts, Bentham's Flora Australiensis, and Bailey's 

 Queensland Woods. 



Species (in alphabetical order) 1. E. acmenoides, Schauer ; 2. E. alpina. 

 Lindl. ; 3. E. amygdalina., Labill. ; 4. E. Andrewsi, Maiden ; 5. E. Baileyarui, 

 F. V. M. ; 6. E. bicolor, A. Cunn. ; 1. E. botryoides, Smith ; 8. E. calophylla,, 

 R. Br. ; 9. E. Cambagei, Deane and Maiden ; 10. E. capifellata. Smith ; 

 11. ^. cinerea, F. v. M. ; [E. citriodora, Hook., see 36. E. imculata, Hook. ; 



E. coccifera, Hook, f., see 3. E. amygdalina, Labill.] ; 12. E. coriacea, A. 

 Cunn. ; 13. E. cornuta, Labill. ; 14. E. corymbosa. Smith ; 15. E. corynocalyx, 



F. V. M. ; 16. E. crebra, F.v.M. ; 17. E. delegatensis, B,.T. Baker ; 18. E. dives, 

 Schauer; 19. E. eugenioides,S\eher ; 20. E. eximia,Sch3iUev; 21. E.ficifolia, 

 F. V. M. ; 22. E. foecunda, Schauer ; 23. E. Globulus, Labill. ; 24. E. gompho- 

 cephala, DC. ; 25. E. goniocalyx, F. v. M. ; 26. E. Guniiii, Hook. ; 27. E. 



