PRIKCIPAL SPECIES OF EUCALYPTS GROWN IN AMERICA. 77 



endure.s the desert conditions of southern Arizona. Near Phoenix, 

 where the annual rainfall is only 7 inches, are trees that in ten years 

 have attained a height of 30 to -45 feet and a basal diameter of 1 foot, 

 with no irrigation since the first few years of their growth. (See Pis. 

 XL, XLI.) Besides enduring such extreme climatic conditions as 

 indicated, this species is also tolerant of considerable alkali. 



The Red Gum seems to have become more nearly naturalized in the 

 Southwest than anj^ other species. As already stated, it grows spon- 

 taneously in considerable abundance on Mr. Cooper's ranch near Santa 

 Barbara, the climatic and soil conditions of the ravine that extends 

 through his estate seeming to reseml>le quite closely conditions under 

 which the tree thrives in its native land. As the species becomes more 

 generally planted it will, very prol)ably, come to grow spontaneously 

 under a variet}- of conditions. 



Uses. — The Red Gum furnishes a timber tiuit is v(M'y vaUia])le for 

 many purposes. When freshly cut. the wood is a rich red color that 

 grows darker as it is exposed to the air. It is close-grained, the libers 

 being interlocked and thus rendering it quite difficult to split. It is 

 very hard and strong — Mr. Maiden sa3\s ''almost as hard as iron, when 

 thoroughly dry." The great usefulness of the timber is due prin- 

 ci]3ally to its durability, both underground and in water. Baron von 

 Mueller says, in his " Introduction to Botanical Teachings," that " well 

 matured trees of this species, cut at the season when the circulation of 

 the sap is least active, and carefull}^ placed for drying, have proved 

 one of the most durable of any timbers of the whole globe." Accord- 

 ing to this author and Mr. Maiden, the principal uses of the timber in 

 Australia are for ship building, for bridge building, for paving, for 

 telegraph poles, posts, piles, house blocks, and street curbing. It is 

 reported to l)e quite resistant to the attacks of marine animals and 

 white ants. Baron von Mueller sa3'S, '"The timber is one of the most 

 highly esteemed in all Australia among that of pAicalypts ;" and Mr. 

 Maiden, in speaking of this species in an address upon the forests of 

 New South Wales, May, 1901, states that ''there is no difficulty in 

 supplying a practically unlimited demand for a timber of one uniform 

 quality,"" 



In Australia the Red (xum is a source of commercial kino, the article 

 from this species being, according to Mr, Maid(Mi. "perhaps the best 

 known of all Elucalyptus kinos." Exudations are provoked V)y chop- 

 ping a few chips from the bark of the trunk. 



In America the principal uses made of the Red (Jum have l)een for 

 fuel and for posts, Mr. Cooper cuts it for fuel for home use and for 

 market, and considers it a protital)le species for that purpose. On 

 account of its profuse Ijloom it is a good honey-yielding tree, l)oth in 

 Australia and in America. Besides the above, the species is useful as 

 a shade tree, as a wind-l)reak. and as a forest cover in a great variety 



