22 " THE LEAVES OF THE TREE W6T6 FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS/ 



ourclimite except, perhaps, that of our extreme Suithern States, as they require 

 a tropical or sub-tropical temoerature. Others of them, however, are quite hardy 

 ani are capable of bearing very severe cold. With a view of testing their cold 

 bearing qualities Dr. Ernest Aberg, a member of the Academy of Medical Science, 

 and a German scientist who has resided many ye irs in Buenos Avers, has lately 

 devoted a large share of attention to the growing of these trees. He has now at 

 his county-seat, near the town of Ramos Mejia, on the Buenos Ayres and West- 

 ern Railroads, upwards of sixty varieties in more or less successful cultivation. 



" In a recent publication on the subject he says, that while the most of them 

 are too delicate to be grown in the province of Buenos Ayres, except as ornamental 

 trees, requiring special care, a few are not affected by even severe cM and can 

 bear the changes of the most variable climates. Amongst these he specially 

 recommends the following : Eucalyptus alpine, which grows on the highlands 

 and mountains of Victoria at an altitude of 4000 feet above the level of the sea. 

 Eucalyptus amyydalina, a very large tree, measuring generally upwards of 80 

 feet in height by 2 feet in diameter while it is not rare in Australia to see speci- 

 mens 200 feet high and 40 feet in diameter at 4 feet from the ground. The tree 

 seems to do well in Buenos Ayres, growing very rapidly, and producing a mag- 

 nificent hardwood with beautiful veins running through it. Its vulgar name 

 among the colonists is the " narrow-leaved peppermint tree." Eucalyptus cori- 

 (t,ca t a tree which endures the intensest cold, forming in New South Wales and 

 Victoria extensive forests at an altitude of 5000 feet above the sea level. Its com- 

 mon name is the '* mountain white gum tree." Its leaves are large and lustrous. 

 Eucalyptus globulus, this tree is not quite so hardy as 



some of those mentioned above, especially when it is young, but its wonderful 

 qualities have made it naturally a great favorite here, and it is now to be seen 

 growing sometimes on large plantations in all this part of the province of Buenos 

 Ayrep, its very rapid growth in two or three years producing the same effect which 

 other trees would hardly produce in fifteen years. Tnis is the variety of Eucalyp- 

 tus of all others most recommended for acclimation in the United States. Tne 

 Euealyptus globulus grows with a rapidity which is surprising .... as an 

 example of their increase it may be stated that in Hyeres seeds planted in 1857 

 had in 1865 reached the height of 58 feet. In Toulon the plant grows to 24 feet in 

 two years. In 1863, there were trees in Algiers of three years growth which had 

 attained a height of 30 to 35 feet, and generally in that country they grow at the 

 rate of about ten feet each season . 



" MEDICINAL VIRTUES OF THE TREE. I have said this much of the Eucalyptus 

 as a forest or shade tree which has already become a great favorite here, and 

 which, I believe, would be found to give equally satisfactory results in certain 

 parts of the United States. I m iv add that it is considered here to be a very 

 healthful tree. The pungency of its leaves is such that it is never molested by 

 insects, and 1 believe it is the only tree, grown, here ivhich the locusts (the great 

 pest of the Argentine Republic) will not attack. It has the reputation of being 

 an excellent destroyer or absorbent of malaria. It is stated that in Australia 

 there are no marsh fevers where large forests of the Eucalyptus exist 11 (perfectly 

 true) " and I hear they have been planted in the Pontine in trshes near t l :e city of 

 Rome with excellent effects. In regard to its medical virtues. Professor Bently 

 published a pamphlet in London in 1874 in which he fully confirmed all that has 

 been claimed for the tree, calling it "THE FEVER DESTROYING TREE," and citing 

 many instances to prove it. Here in Buenos Ayres they bruise the leaves and 

 bind them to the forehead for nervous headache, and I am told that the leaves are 

 a special abhorrence to such insects as prey upon fruits and fruit trees against 

 whose visitations they furnish protection by being scattered thickly on the 

 ground underneath." 



The above extract which I have copied since my arrival in San Francisco, 

 speaks for itself and, in my opinion, should be read from every church 

 pulpit and school desk in America until the instructive lesson it conveys be 

 deeply burned into every one's mind throughout the land. Consul Baker's 

 admirable report had evidently been overlooked and became in consequence 



