190 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



Melaleuca ericifolia, Smith.* 



South-East Australia. This tall shrub or bushy tree is of impor- 

 tance for consolidating muddy shores ; almost like mangroves, it 

 will live in very salt ground and in water. I found it growing 

 vigorously where the water contained rather more than 2 per cent, 

 chlorides, and the wet soil contained nearly 1J per cent, chlorides 

 (the contents of sea-water are from 3 to 4 per cent, chlorides, or 

 about 2J per cent, chloride of natrium). It yields also a compara- 

 tively large quantity of cajaput oil. It admits of easy transplanta- 

 tion in an up-grown state. Myoporum insulare (R. Brown) can in 

 like manner be used in tree plantations for the sake of shelter on 

 wet saline soil. Melaleuca linarifolia and M. genistifolia can also 

 be grown in swamps for hygienic purposes and to subdue paludal 

 malaria or fever-provoking effluvia. The branches of M. ericifolia 

 furnish the best material in Victoria for lasting easily-worked 

 garlands. 



Melaleuca leucadendron, Linne. 



The Cajaput-tree of India, North and East Australia as far south 

 as 34 south latitude. This tree attains a height of 80 feet, with 

 a stem up to 4 feet in diameter, on tidal ground ; it can with great 

 advantage be utilised for such areas for subduing malarian vapours 

 in salt swamps where no Eucalyptus will live. Its bark protects 

 it against conflagrations. The wood is fissile, hard, and close- 

 grained, regarded as almost imperishable underground, and resists 

 the attacks of the termites. It is well adapted for posts, wharf- 

 piles, ship-building, and various artizans' work. 



Melaleuca parviflora, Lindley. 



Extra-tropical Australia. A tall bush or small tree. One of the 

 most important plants for fixing moving coast-sands. 



Melaleuca styphelioides, Smith. 



East Australia. Height of tree to 60 feet, stem diameter to 2J 

 feet. The timber is hard, close-grained, and stands well in clamp 

 situations. It is said that the timber has never been known to 

 decay (Queensland Exhibition, 1878). Tree adapted for swamps. 



Melaleuca trichostachya, Lindley. 



Tropical East Australia. A small tree deserving attention as 

 eligible for saline land, on which it can be raised much more easily 

 than Myoporum insulare. M. Thozet observes that it occurs in 

 places where it is bathed by the tides ; also that large saplings 

 without roots can be transplanted. Thus it may be destined to 

 aid with several of its congeners and with Salicornias, Avicennias, 



