266 The Eucalyptus. 



probable that it would all the more readily admit of the injection 

 of creosote, or the mineral salts in solution, that would render it 

 hard, strong, and durable. 



1057. The mature wood is rather pale, and not so ornamental 

 as many others of the genus, but it takes a good polish, is hard, 

 durable, and nearly equal to English oak as a building timber, but 

 it will not bear contact with the soil or water as well as the red-gum, 

 iron-bark, and box-eucalypts. It varies in solidity according to the 

 conditions of its growth, and is sometimes too heavy to float. It 

 is used in ship-building, carriage-making, and the manufacture of 

 agricultural implements, and for telegraph poles and railway ties. 

 In its native country it is a favorite material for fencing, and va- 

 rious farm uses. 



1058. As to profit in the cultivation of the Eucalyptus globulus in 

 California, we hav'e returns of twenty acres cleared, when eleven 

 years old, to make room for an orchard, in which after charging 

 every item of cost, and a yearly rental of $5 per acre, the net 

 profits were $3,866.04, or about $17.57 per acre annually. When 

 used as fuel, the wood should be split immediately after felling, or 

 otherwise it becomes soggy and worthless. 



1059. In a paper presented at the American Forestry Congress 

 at Cincinnati,* in April, 1882, by Prof. B, E. C. Stearns, of the 

 California State University, after presenting the leading facts in 

 reference to tree-planting in that state witii evident fairness, he 

 adds : " If one-half of the trees planted, as represented by the pre- 

 ceding figures, arc still living and growing, the past has been really a 

 very great success. If new plantations are being made at the rate 

 of say only 50,000 or 75,000 per annum, the present is full of prom- 

 ise, and the future full of hope." 



1060. The seeds of the E. globulus are small (about 10,000 to an 

 ounce), and will keep their vitality about four years. The lower 

 leaves are broad and heart-shaped, but the upper ones turn edge- 

 wise, so as to present both sides to the light, and are long-pointed 

 and curved flatwise. For this reason this tree does not shade the 

 ground so much as most forest trees. 



1061. The leaves, when rubbed, emit a strong aromatic odor, 

 and afford by distillation an essential oil that is found to possess 

 valuable medicinal qualities. About the year 1870, the exporta- 

 tion of this oil from Australia by a single manufacturer amounted 



