136 Select Plants for Industrial Culture 



calophylla had failed. Its growth was there found to. be four times 

 as fast as that of teak, and the wood proved for many purposes as 

 valuable. Trees attained a height of 30 feet in four years ; one tree, 

 twelve years old, was 100 feet high, and 6 feet in girth at 3 feet from 

 the ground ; to thrive well there it wants an elevation of not less than 

 4,000 feet. It has succeeded particularly well at elevations of from 

 2,500 to 7,000 feet in Central Mexico (Dr. Mariano Barcena). In 

 Algeria and Portugal it has furnished railway-sleepers in eight years, 

 and telegraph poles in ten years (Cruikshank). At Tirana it grew 15 

 feet in two years, with irrigation (E. van Weenen). On the moun- 

 tains of Guatemala it attained, in twelve years, a height of 120 feet 

 and a stem-circumference of 9 feet (Boucard). According to the Rev. 

 D. Landsborough, it proved hardy in the Isle of Arran. Mr. Ch. 

 Traill notes it as thriving amazingly as far south as Stewart-Island. 

 For window-culture in cold countries E. globulus was first recom- 

 mended by Ucke ; for culture in hospital wards to counteract contagia, 

 by Mosler and Goeze. Eucalyptus leaves generate ozone largely for 

 the purification of air ; the volatile oil is very antiseptic. This tree, 

 particularly when in an unhealthy state, is, at Melbourne, apt to be 

 bored by the larva' of a large moth (Endoxyla Eucalypti) and 

 also by two beetles (Hapatesus hirtus and particularly Phoracantha 

 tricuspis), as noticed by Mr. Ch. French. Seeds will keep for several 

 years, admit of easy transmission abroad, and germinate quickly; 

 but a tree of such celerity in growth and of such vast final dimensions 

 wants necessarily soil open to great depth for full scope of its roots to 

 attain unimpaired development. Mr. T. Waugh observed in South- 

 Island, New Zealand, that plants, raised from locally ripened seeds, 

 proved hardier than those raised from Australian ordinary seed. 



Eucalyptus gomphocephala, De Candolle.* 



The Tooart of South-W'estern Australia; attains a height of 120 

 feet, the clear trunk a length of 50 feet. The wood is tough, heavy 

 and rigid, the texture close and the grain so twisted, as to make it 

 difficult to cleave. It shrinks but little, does not split while under- 

 going the process of seasoning, and is altogether remarkably free 

 from defects. It will bear exposure to all vicissitudes of weather for 

 a long time, and is particularly valuable for large scantling, where 

 great strength is needed; in ship-building it is used for beams, keel- 

 sons, stern-posts, engine-bearers and other work below the floatation;- 

 recommendable also for supports of bridges, framing of dock-gates 

 and for wheelwrights' work; indeed it is one of the strongest woods 

 known, whether tried transversely or otherwise (Laslett). This 

 species, as well as E. odorata, E. foecunda and E. decipiens, thrive 

 best in limestone-soil. 



Eucalyptus goniocalyx, F. v. Mueller.* 



Generally known as Bastard-Boxtree and occasionally as Spotted 

 Gumtree. From Cape Otway to the southern parts of New South 

 Wales, rare near St. Vincent's Gulf (McEwin) and Flinders-Range 

 (J. E. Brown). A large tree, which should be included among those 



