11 THE LEAVES OF THE TREE W6T6 FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS." 21 



During my observations anent the early invasion of said tiny grass- 

 hoppers, I noticed that their onward progress towards the settled districts 

 was invariably impeded by the existence of any intervening clumps of 

 eycalypti saplings or trees, as also scattered eucalypti leaves'causing the 

 whole mass to make wide detours away from such. I was thereby led to 

 more carefully examine the reasons why this was thus, and ultimately 

 discovered subsequent to having experimently protected my vine- 

 yard and orchard grounds with Eucalypti plants, that the marvelous 

 antiseptic exudations from the foliage absolutely defy the intrusion of 

 locusts or of other insect plagues including the much dreaded phylloxera 

 vastatrix, if vines are reasonably well planted and cared for, it being im- 

 possible for locusts or grasshoppers however numerous and powerful they 

 may be in and around the immediate neighborhood to approach within 

 thirty or forty feet at least, of eucalypti protected grounds and live. This 

 fact I have satisfactorily, though privately, demonstrated for over a 

 decade in Victoria, Australia, and am fully prepared to do so in the 

 United States or elsewhere. 



In my researches into the origin of insect plagues, I have discovered 

 that they are as already stated " nature's scavengers" evolved and sus- 

 tained from the putrid atmosphere which our reckless destruction of the 

 earth's " forest lungs" has created, and that lire eucalypti foliage is un- 

 questionably the finest and most perfect atmosphere purifiying agent on 

 this blight cursed earth. Just think of it, Eucalyptus glolulus leaves 

 are sold by wholesale druggists in Victoria, Australia at one shilling and 

 sixpence per pound, i. e. thirty-six cents, for medicinal purposes, and in 

 California they are, as a rule, ruthlessly chopped down and trodden under 

 foot! 



u. s. CONSUL E. L. BAKER'S REPORT. 



In the United States Consular Eeports for November and December, 

 1882, appears an interesting account from Consul E. L. Baker on the 

 beneficent properties of eucalypti trees in Buenos Ayres, dated August 

 23rd, 1882, from which I have pleasure in quoting as follows : 



THE EUCALYPTI TREE, "Thinking the matter might be of some interest to the 

 people of the United States, I enclose a report setting forth the success which has 

 attended the introduction of the Eucalyptus Globulus in the Argentine Kepublics 

 and somewhat explaining the method of its cultivation here. I have several times 

 in my annual reports referred to the successful introduction of the Eucalyptus 

 Globulus (the blue gum tree) of Australia into the Argentine Republic, and spok- 

 en of the rapiditv some portions of the pampas heretofore destitute of timber are 

 now being dotted with plantations of these magnificent trees ; and from the ease 

 with which they can be grown, and the marvellous rapidity of their growth. I 

 suggested the possibility of their cultivation in the milder parts of the United 

 States. I observe that in a more recent report to the Department (No. 8, page 

 890) accompanied by an article from a French paper, Consul Wilson of Brussels 

 shows the success which has attended their introduction into France, and also sug- 

 gests the acclimation on the treeless regions of our southern territories. From 

 what I have observed during my stay in this country, I am more and more con- 

 vinced that the eucalyptus is a most desirable tree with which to timber our south- 

 western plains and renew our rapidly decreasing forests ; and I believe that a 

 proper trial on a large scale in those portions of our country where the winters are 

 not too severe, would speedily render it such a favorite that its cultivation, not 

 only for ornament, but for timber would become general. 



" VARIOUS SPECIES OF EUCALYPTUS. To avoid disappointment, however, in at- 

 tempting plantations in the United States, it should be borne in mind that there 

 are many species of this tree ; and that not all or even many of them would bear 



