FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



February 



Gum requires more time in seasoning 

 than Ash does; from two to three years 

 being required to season it thoroughly. 



As soon as the tree is cut, it is sawed 

 up into planks for three reasons : it is 

 more easily worked, it seasons more 

 quickly, and it checks less. After it 

 becomes dry it is very difficult to work, 

 being almost impossible to shape with 

 hand tools. 



The grain is very twisted, and a draw 

 shave can not be used, for the grain runs 

 in all directions. After the planks are 

 sawed, they are underpiled with an air 

 space between them. Small pieces are 

 used for insulator pins on telegraph 

 poles. They are boiled in order to 

 hasten their seasoning. They are also 

 boiled in linseed oil, to preserve them. 

 These pins are of various sizes, from six 

 inches long to two feet, costing from 

 three to five cents each. For wagon 

 tongues the logs are sawed into twelve- 

 foot lengths, and for racks into sixteen- 

 foot lengths. In all possible cases the 

 sawing is done to these lengths. Shorter 

 pieces are used for spokes and other 

 small parts. Besides these are made 

 plow-beams, harrows, neck-yokes, and 

 posts for electric cars. 



In some mines near Escondido, Blue 

 Gum is used for timbering. It has 

 been in use for this purpose during the 

 past three years and has given very satis- 

 factory service, insomuch that the own- 

 ers of the mines are determined to con- 

 tinue its use. How r ever, its chief use 

 is for fuel, and it is to-day the principal 

 fuel of southern California. When first 

 cut, it splits and saws fairly well, but if 

 allowed to lie in the sun for a few days, 

 it rapidly loses its sap, and becomes so 

 hard and tough that it is almost impos- 

 sible to work it up into stove wood. 

 It rots very rapidly when used for posts 

 and can not be recommended for this 



purpose, but, strangely enough, it seems 

 to possess excellent lasting qualities 

 when used in submerged positions, such 

 as piling, especially in salt or brackish 

 waters. 



In California there are at present 

 almost 2 , 800 acres in Blue Gum. During 

 the present winter many more acres 

 will be planted. Besides the Blue Gum 

 other useful species are the Sugar Gum, 

 which will stand the most drought of 

 any of the commercial species, and 

 which produces better fuel than the 

 Blue Gum, works easily, being straight 

 grained, and makes a good post. It 

 produces many flowers, which yield a 

 good grade of honey. 



The Red Gum {Eucalyptus rostra to) 

 lasts a long time in the ground, making 

 a good post, but for fuel or piles it is not 

 of much use, being rather soft. 



Eucalyptus sideroxylon,&v Iron Bark, is 

 a slow-growing tree, but makes an ex- 

 ceedingly hard, heavy wood. It is an 

 excellent post tree. 



Eucalyptus piuictata is not yet planted 

 on a large scale, but, judging from the 

 few specimens now growing in Califor- 

 nia, it promises well, and should prove 

 a good timber tree. 



Eucalyptus diversicohr is another rare 

 tree. The few specimens planted in 

 parks grow very rapidly. It also will 

 make good timber. 



Eucalyptus rcsinifcra and the other Ma- 

 hogany Gums, while very sensitive to 

 frost, could be planted in many localities, 

 and, on account of their fast growth and 

 beautiful grain, should make very suit- 

 able cabinet wood. 



For ornamental purposes Eucalyptus 

 rostrata, viminclis, cornuta, fecifolia, citri- 

 odora, and calophylla are probably the 

 best. For a honey tree Eucalyptus poly- 

 anthima,corynocalyx, rodnsta,and cormita 

 may be recommended. 



