16 EUCALYPTS CULTIVATED IN THE UNITED STATES. 



recognize it, so changed is the aspect of its vegetation. No more there of those 

 characteristic, stunted, grayish bushes. They have been replaced on at least one- 

 fourth of the surface of the land by cooling and fragrant fore jts of huge Eucalypts, 

 which tower high above the thousand-year-old Olive and Mastic trees. Australia is 

 invading the ancient Provence; the antipodean forest is gradually taking the place of 

 the indigenous species of the Old World. 



Felix Sathut states in his Les Eucalj^ptus, published in 1888, that — 



The Eucalyptus * * * is certainly of all the exotic trees thus transplanted the 

 one which excites the most astonishment by the rapidity of its growth, its gigantic 

 proportions, and the very great diversity of its appearance and foliage. It is already 

 so abundant that it is encountered at every step in the public places, in all the 

 gardens, and it is already being iised as a forest sort. 



In France, Eucal3'ptus culture is still confined almost exclusivel}' to 

 the Mediterranean coast region, no species having been generally 

 introduced that will withstand the frosts that occur at most points to 

 the north of this favored maritime district. From that country cul- 

 ture has extended into most of the region about the Mediterranean, 

 including its islands. On the island of Corsica these trees have been 

 grown with special appreciation of their value, several publications 

 having been written concerning their culture there. 



In Italy, Eucalypts were grown previous to 1870 simply as botanical 

 or ornamental specimens. During that year the}" were lirst set in 

 large numbers for the sanitar}' improvement of a locality. The most 

 extensive planting made that year was by the Trappist monks at 

 Tres Fontane in the Campagna Romana, where malaria was very 

 prevalent. Charles Belmont Davis, American consul at Florence in 

 1894, writes, in Consular Reports No. 168, that — 



A few monks used to go to this place from Rome every morning after the sun had 

 cleared away the fog, plant as many of the Eucalyptus globulus as they could during 

 the day, and return to the city in the evening. * * * Over 55,000 Eucalyptus 

 trees are planted at this place to-day. * * * At present Italy has at least 100,000 

 Eucalyptus under successful cultivation, 30,000 of Avhich are due to the railway com- 

 panies and 70,000 to private enterprise. 



According to a report made by Herbert W. Bowen, American 

 consul at Barcelona, in 189-1, Eucalj'pts were introduced into Spain 

 in 1865, where Eucaly])tiis glohulus became known as the ''fever 

 tree," "because it is believed to purif}^ bogg}' and aqueous regions 

 that engender fevers." Mr. Bowen writes: 



The French are the most active and intelligent (if we leave our own Californians 

 out of the question) in propagating the tree. Hardly less sanguine than the French 

 a^j-y * * * tj^g Spaniards, who hope by cultivating the Eucalyptus to eliminate 

 from the atmosphere the noxious exhalations of their soil, and to secure an ample 

 supply of woodland and wood. 



In Portugal and in Greece Eucalypts are grown successfully, but 

 have not yet been planted on so extensive a scale as in other parts of 

 southern Europe. 



