50 



What this free fuel means, in pounds, shillings and 

 pence, will of course depend on circumstances. To a 

 household in the suburbs of Cape Town it means about 

 15 a year. Jn many other Colonial towns where wood 

 has to be brought from a distance it means more. At 

 Knysna the cost of transport makes wood fuel dearer than 

 at Cape Town. To many a farmer free fuel means the 

 saving of the scanty indigenous trees on his farm the 

 beauty, the shade, the water, and the shelter for stock, 

 produced by these trees. To every one who has the means 

 we would counsel the planting of an acre of Blue-gum 

 copse near the house or homestead. It will render the 

 surroundings more healthy and pretty. Under favourable 

 circumstances it will cost about 7 (planting 5 f t. x 5 ft.), 

 and will repay its cost twice over the first year. It may be 

 allowed to grow untouched for 10 or 12 years, and then 

 cut over gradually during the next 10 years ;" and so on, in 

 perpetuity, one-tenth of an acre being cut over and ten tons 

 of wood harvested, each year. 



In the wonderful growth of the Blue-gum the inhabit- 

 ants of those countries where it prospers possess a distinct 

 natural advantage which should not be neglected, 



A.n ounce of sifted Blue-gum seed averages about 10,000 

 .good seeds: unsifted about 4,200 seeds. 



E. goniocalyx. GONIOCALYX GUM. 



A quick-growing frost-bearing tree, but less drought- 

 resistant than some of the Gums. It is often as quick- 

 growing as Blue-gum but the timber is little more valuable. 

 It may be tried along with Blue-gum for its hardy quick- 

 growth. It likes winter or mixed rainfalls. 



Eucalyptus Gunnii. GUNN'S GUM. 



Has proved a hardy frost-bearing species in S. Africa. 

 In Australia the " Cider " variety is found up to 5,800 feet 

 on the Australian Alps, which is not far below the limit of 

 eternal snow 6,500 feet. For growth in similar localities 

 .seed would probably bave to be specially obtained from that 



