PLANTS INTRO DOCED INTO THE VICTORIA GARDENS. 357 



Botanical Gardens, Calcutta, in April, 1896, and afterwards all seem to be 

 doing very well in Bombay. It appears to be a straight, tall tree of rapid 

 growth. It has not yet flowered here. Dr. A. V, Gage, Curator of the 

 Herbarium of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, has kindly supplied me 

 with the following information about its introduction in India :~ 



" Swietenia macrophylla is a large-leaved species of mahogany which 

 was sent over as seed, a good many years ago, from the West Indies. It 

 was supposed to be Swietenia Mahogani seed that had been sent. Dr. King, 

 as he then was, discovered that the plants resulting from the seeds were 

 quite different from the Swietenia Mahogani.'" 



19. Eucalyptus Globulus, ^' Labill. (Myrtaceje). Blue Gum Tree. 

 This well-known Australian tree, growing to a height of about 300 feet, 

 is reputed to possess febrifugal properties, and is extensively planted on 

 that account in malarious districts. The oil obtained from the leaves 

 is antiseptic, and the antimalarial properties of the tree are considered 

 to be due partly to the antiseptic vapours given off by the leaves into 

 the surrounding air, which are supposed to kill the germs of malaria. 

 The leaves and branches which cover the soil containing a large proportion 

 of eucalyptol may also prevent the development of the germs. But its 

 action ia this respect is also ascribed to the absorption of large quantities 

 of water by its roots during its rapid growth and passing it off through the 

 leaves as healthy vapour and thus rapidly draining swampy land and 

 making it unsuitable for malarial germs. This latter hypothesis receives 

 some confirmation from the recent researches on the connection of malaria 

 with mosquitos which breed ia shallow pools and swampy land. This 

 tree has been tried by me over and over again, but has never survived for 

 mora than two or three years at the most. The seeds germinate freely and 

 the plants grow well for some time in pots, but after making some growth 

 both the plants in pots and those planted in the ground die during the 

 rainy season. As the tree only grows and thrives at very high elevations 

 and in soil which is neither too dry or too wet, there is no chance of its 

 thriving in a place like Bombay. 



Another species Eucalyptus citkiodoka, Hoolcer, called Lemon-scented 

 Gum Tree on account of the leaves emitting, when rubbed, a powerful odour 

 resembling that of the lemon-scented verbena (Aloysia citriodora'), is said 

 to succeed in tropical climates. This has also been tried here, but without 

 much success. It has, however, not failed so completely as E. globulus and 

 ia likely to succeed well in Bombay on a somewhat drier soil than that of 

 the Victoria Gardens. 



The only other species which has entirely succeeded in the gardens is 

 Eucalyptus siderophloia, Benth., called the White Iron-bark Tree, which 



"■ The name is derived from eu, well, and kalyptos, covering, on account, of the bud 

 of its flower being covered with the lid*like limb of the calyx which falls Off as soon as 

 the flower opens, and from globulus^ a little globe, 

 21 



