313 



Old Cakbar in 1899. Millen (Report, Bot. St. Ebute Metta, 31st Dec. 

 1891) records ten plants of E. tesselaris, and twelve E. tereticornis, 

 in permanent places. At the same time he reports one plant of 

 E. calqphylla, one E. goniocalyx, two E. mersiheca and four E. creba 

 at Ebute Metta. In 1892 Millen further reports (30th June, 1892) 

 that "the Eucalyptus planted out about 16 months ago have done well, 

 and improved the swampy ground in which they were planted," the 

 growth made during that time being stated as from 18-21 feet. In 

 1899 it was proposed to fill up certain (kokomaiko) swamp lands 

 covering about 27 acres in Lagos, and to convert them into a 

 Eucalyptus Park. Seeds of three species of Eucalyptus which 

 appeared to thrive in Lagos — tereticornis, tesselaris, and rudis — were 

 specially requisitioned by the Secretary of State from Trinidad for 

 the purpose, and all the seeds procurable in Lagos were collected and 

 sown, but from these latter only about 90 seedlings were raised and 

 planted out on the reclamation then completed {fide letters, Governor, 

 Lagos to Col. Office, Aug. 2nd, 1899, April 2nd, 1900 ; Director, Royal 

 Gardens, Kew, to Col. Office, Nov. 26th, 1900 ; Col. Office to Governor, 

 Lagos, and Director, Royal Gardens, Kew, Dec. 20th, 1900). 

 Seedlings of "Blue Gum" are reported as being grown for dis- 

 tribution at Naraguta, Pangan and Bauchi (Duff, N. Nigeria Gaz. 

 Oct. 31st, 1910, Suppl. p. 245). 



There are upwards of 150 species known, all of which are more or 

 less valuable for their timber — suitable for shipbuilding, railway 

 sleepers, mill-work, paving, agricultural implements, &c, bark for 

 tanning — though limited perhaps in this respect, the most prominent 

 being Mallet Bark (E. occidentalis), Kino from the wood, oil from 

 the leaves — used medicinally, the flowers as food for bees, and as 

 ornamental trees. 



Some of the trees attain an immense size — 300-100 ft. high, with 

 a bulk in proportion. Eucalyptus arnygdalina and E. Globulus are 

 amongst the largest, and they together with E. citriodora are perhaps 

 the most important for producing oil, as well as being valuable 

 timbers. 



The " Lemon-scented Eucalyptus " (E. citriodora) is perhaps the 

 best known under cultivation in tropical countries. 



It is one of three species (citriodora, tereticornis, & tesselaris) 

 considered the most useful in Dominica (West Indian Bull. x. 1909, 

 p. 125). In all hot countries, where most or all species tried have 

 failed, this seems to have grown without difficulty, and, as already 

 intimated, has proved no exception in Nigeria when once estab- 

 lished. 



" Blue gum " {E. Globulus) is perhaps the most familiar species 

 under cultivation in sub-tropical or in the highlands of some 

 tropical countries. It has succeeded well in the miasma stricken 

 parts of Italy and is almost naturalised in Algeria. Oil from the 

 leaves of this species in the Transvaal has been found of excellent 

 quality and well suited for medicinal use (Pharm. Journ. [11 xxviii. 

 1909, p. 1). 



According to Brandis (Indian Trees, p. 328) the timber production 

 to the age of 20 years on the Nilgiris is 170 cubic feet of solid wood 

 per acre per annum. He draws the comparison with " Spruce " 

 (Picea excelsa) in Europe, which up to the same age, under the most 

 favourable conditions, only produces 70 cubic feet per acre annually. 



