EUCAL YPTUS. 41 



complete revolt against it of the pine. To insure a new 

 growth the pollarding should be done when the sap is 

 running actively. Our redwood is, I believe, the only con- 

 iferous tree with this sprouting quality. Alone amongst 

 its compeers, in this quality, the redwood exceeds in its 

 persistent vitality for sending out suckers and shoots when 

 cut down, all known trees. 



The sprouting of the blue gum when cut adds to its 

 value as a fuel tree, for in plantations it makes its first 

 crop in about seven years and then for an indefinite per- 

 iod renews the crop every three to five years. 



The blue gum to give best results for either timber or 

 fu,el should be planted 6x8 or 8x8, or certainly not more 

 than 10 feet apart. The most successful pine plantation in 

 California is at Monterey and of the Monterey pine. These 

 trees are now eleven years old average 35 feet in height, 

 are straight and clean in the stem and are planted 10 feet 

 apart. This is the proper form for all forest tree planta- 

 tions with but slight variation. The object of close plant- 

 ing is to obtain the maximum of a clear straight stem. 

 This gives the best return with the most economical condi- 

 tion for gathering the crop, and is alike advantageous whe- 

 ther the crop is lumber, fire- wood, gum or bark. If the 

 trees crowd each other as they grow they can be thinned 

 out. 



In European forestry it has generally been found best 

 to mix plantations of forest trees. That is, plantations of 

 one kind of tree solid are not found to succeed well. We 

 have not had this experience in California. The Eucalyp- 

 tus has certainly been tried enough to say that the great 

 advantage and economy of solid plantation to one kind of 

 tree is not neutralized by indifferent growing in this genus. 



