THE EUCALYPTS AS EXOTICS. 17 



IN AFRICA. 



About the same time that the Eucalypts were introduced into France 

 the}' were carried into the French colonics in northern Africa. The 

 Blue Gum {Eiiealyptioi glohulus) i.s reported to have been introduced 

 into Alg'eria in 1854, a little over half a centur}- after the discover}- of 

 the species in Tasmania by La Billardiere. By the year 1875, accord- 

 ing to Planchon, it had been planted in northern Africa '"by hundreds 

 of thousands, in groves, in avenues, in groups, in isolated stalks, in 

 ever}' section of three provinces; and the foreigner who does not know 

 the exotic origin of the P^ucalyptus would suppose it to be an indigen- 

 ous tree," He adds: "No tree has in so short a space of time intro- 

 duced into the forest vegetation of Algeria so picturesque an element, 

 or is as useful and as promising for the future." 



Prof. Louis Trabut, Government botanist of Algeria, wrote to the 

 author as follows, under date of October 14, 1900: 



Relative to the Eucalyptus, this tree has been ijlanted in Algeria since 1870. 

 Only E. globulus was planted for several years. Lately they have planted E. rostrata. 

 These are the only species that have been generally planted. Among amateurs 100 

 other species may be found. The Eucalyi)tuK has rendered great service to the 

 country in quickly growing wood for the timbers of sheds and other farm buildings. 



Eucalyptus culture has continued to spread, now extending through- 

 out other parts of the continent, more especially in the English and 

 Dutch colonies of southern Africa. James Bryce, in his Impressions 

 of South Africa, published in 1897, says, concerning the planting of 

 Eucalypts in the latter region: 



The want of forests in South Africa is one of the greatest misfortunes of the coun- 

 try, for it makes timbercostly. * * * Unfortunately, most of the South African trees 

 grow slowly; so where planting has been attempted it is chiefly foreign sorts that are 

 tried. Among these the first place belongs to the Australian gums, because they 

 shoot up faster than any others. One finds them now everywhere, mostly in rows 

 or groups around a house or a hamlet, but sometimes also in regular plantations. 

 They have become a conspicuous feature in the landscape of the veldt plateau, 

 especially in those places where there was no wood, or the little that existed has 

 been destroyed. * * * If this goes on, those Australian immigrants will sensibly 

 affect the aspect of the country, just as they have affected that of the Riviera in 

 southeastern France, of the Campagna of Rome, of the rolling toi)s of the Xilghiri 

 hills in South India. 



IN SOUTHERN ASIA. 



It is reported that the Eucalypts were introduced into soutiiern 

 India as early as 1813. Several thou.sand acres are now covered with 

 these trees, principally upon the Nilghiri and Palui hills. In parts 

 of India a great variety of Eucalypts thrive, while in other sections 

 only a limited number of species can be grown. Some large planta- 

 tions there are now 10 years old. In the consular report for Sep- 

 27719— No. 35—02 2 



