1898 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



347 



THE EUCALYPTUS (OR PEPPER) TREE. 



BY J. H. MARTIN. 



The pepper-tree {SchiJius moUi) is a native 

 of Peru. It is termed a small tree by some 

 authorities, but in California it finds a conge- 

 nial soil and climate for development into a 

 robust tree nearly as large and spreading as 

 the live oak. It is an evergreen, and its long 

 drooping branches bear an abundance of deli- 

 cate pinnate leaves. The blossoms are small, 

 white, and arranged in terminal clusters. The 

 tree derives its popular name from the resem- 

 blance of the seed or berry of the common 

 pepper-berry. The seed and the foliage have 

 a distinctive peppery flavor. The color of the 



amount, there is a difference of opinion among 

 bee-keepers. Sometimes, when the skin of 

 the berry cracks, they work upon that with 

 about as much vigor as they do upon the blos- 

 som. The nectar they get from either the 

 blossom or the berry partakes of the nature of 

 the tree, and is peppery or strong in flavor, 

 and dark in quality. We have heard of no 

 great yields from this source ; but as it is in 

 bloom at a time when other plants are secret- 

 ing nectar, and of a better quality, the pepper 

 comes in for some condemnation for giving a 

 pungent flavor and dark hue to what would 

 otherwise be first-grade honey. On this ac- 

 count some bee-keepers are opposed to plant- 

 ing it. It is distinctively a shade tree, for the 

 berry and the timber are of but little use. 



BLOSSOMS FROM THE EUCALYPTUS (OR PEPPER) TREE. 



berry is a bright red. The tree bears an abun- 

 dance of them, and the long clusters inter- 

 mingled with the green feathery leaves make 

 a pleasant contrast. 



The tree is planted largely for shade, and is 

 an object of beauty except in one particular. 

 It is said the peacock, when strutting in all 

 the magnificence of a spread of tail feathers, 

 drops them suddenly when it looks down up- 

 on its homely feet ; so the pepper-tree might 

 bow its beautiful head in shame upon getting 

 a glimpse of its rough and misshapen trunk. 



When the pepper is in full bloom the bees 

 work incessantly over the tiny blossoms. They 

 gather pollen and some honey ; but as to the 



The berry has some medicinal virtues about 

 it, and preparations from it are recommended 

 for the cure of coughs, colds, and lung trou- 

 bles. Mr. Levering, of this city, has a method 

 for getting the full medicinal value from the 

 berry, and incorporating it in honey. It is 

 quite probable, however, that, if the honey 

 could be obtained as distinctively pepper as 

 we get the sage, it could be sold upon its me- 

 dicinal qualities alone. 



Honey from the eucalyptus-tree has found 

 ready sale upon its medicinal qualities. The 

 same may be said of horehound and other dis- 

 tinctively flavored plants. The time may come 

 when, by proper grading, we can secure these 



