ii8 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION. 



March, 



is distinctively a forest country, emi- 

 nentl}' fitted for the production of wood. 

 Rob it of its forest, and you will not 

 only rob it of much of its beaut}^ but 

 you will expose a soil which is natu- 

 rally rather sterile to the abusive action 

 of the elements. Already, owing to 

 the wholesale removal of the Sand 

 Pine (Pinus clatisa) from the great sand 

 dune along the east coast for planta- 

 tions of pineapples, the air is at times 

 literally charged with a silicious dust, 

 which is the most unpleasant feature of 

 travel in that region. There are large 

 areas in Florida which, it seems to me, 

 are in great need of the shade and pro- 

 tection which trees afford. 



Among those trees worthy of intro- 

 duction into or more extensive culture 

 in Florida, the following deserve first 

 place, or are at least worthy of a trial. 

 I do not mean to suggest merely the 

 planting here and there of a few trees, 

 but acres and acres, so that Florida 

 may become in time famous for the 

 beauty, variet}^, and productivity of her 

 forests, as well as a land of fruits and 

 vegetables. 



Eucalyptus. There are no doubt man}' 

 species of this remarkable Australian 



CASUARINA EOUISETIFOLIA. 



genus which will grow in southern 

 Florida. One may see large specimens of 

 eucalyptus trees even in very remote 

 places, such as the Isle of Pines. Outside 

 of its home, it is most abundant in south- 

 ern Europe, Algeria, South Africa, and 

 southern California. Eucalyptus ros- 

 trata, or Red Gum, is my favorite. It 

 is a very hardy and valuable timber 

 tree. It is fast growing, erect in habit, 

 and on the whole a tree of great beauty. 

 Its wood is hard, strong, durable, and 

 reddish in color. In South Africa it is 

 called ' ' the farmer's friend. ' ' It grows 

 in damp places, especially on the river 

 flats of eastern Australia, and will prob- 

 ably do very well, if properly tended, 

 on the edge of the Everglades and other 

 swamp}' districts. It is a very effective 

 drainage agent, every tree acting as a 

 powerful pump, since the quick-grow- 

 ing leaves and shoots transpire tremen 

 dously in the sun of the tropics. A 

 gum called " Red Gum," which is ex- 

 tensively used in medicine, is manufact- 

 ured from this tree. It is probably the 

 best known of the Gum Kinos of Aus- 

 tralia. Seeds of this species may be 

 easil}' secured, either from our seed 

 dealers or can be ordered from reliable 

 firms in Europe or Aus- 

 tralia. 



Melalera Icucadendron 

 (Cajeput Tree or Fever 

 Tree) is a tree of Aus- 

 tralia which has been 

 strongly recommended 

 for planting in damp ma- 

 larial regions. This tree 

 yields cajeput oil, which 

 is much used in medi- 

 cine. Baron von Mueller 

 says that ' ' it deserves es- 

 pecial attention as a trop- 

 ical tree, fit to grow in 

 malarial swamps, and 

 containing in its foliage 

 anti.septic and anti-mias- 

 matic oil. It will grow 

 where no Eucalyptus can 

 be reared." 



In the light of modern 

 discoveries in reference 

 to malaria, it is, of coui'se, 

 improbable that these 

 trees exert any very 

 marked influence for 



