27 
started at different points along our line, from 200 to 300 miles west of the Missouri 
River. All the hardy trees common to Eastern Kansas and Western Missouri were 
grown from tho seeds, and for live or six years were carefully cultivated. After that 
time they were left to care for themselves. They made good growth and seemed per- 
fectly at home in what was then a treeless country. Since that tune Bettlers have 
folly occupied the ground, and many of them have grown trees m great numbers. 
Our aim, principally, was to show the new settlers what trees were suitable to plant 
in this section of country.'' 
The Missouri Pacific Company report: 
" In Mississippi County, Missouri, 2f>0,000 Catalpa plants are in cultivation by the 
railway company, and the experiment promises satisfactory results; hut sufficient 
time has not elapsed since planting to speak with certainty." 
Tho Southern Pacific Railroad Company make tho fullest report of any. They say: 
" In the year 1877 it was determined hy the directors to try the experiment of tree- 
culture through the various sections of country traversed hy the line of railroad con- 
trolled hy tho company, with the following objects in view : 
iC (1) To demonstrate the capability and value of the land. 
" (2) To test the value of certain woods for railroad purposes, and the practicability 
of their economic cultivation. 
"(3) To remove the sterile and forbidding appearance of the stations and section 
houses in the treeless plains and valleys, hy surrounding them with fruit and shade 
trees. 
u It was determined to carry this work on under the Superintendent of track, and 
it was specially put in my charge, with instructions to make the current expenses as 
small as possible. 
" My first effort was directed towards the culture of the rapidly growing varieties 
of the Eucalyptus on the margin of the right of way, where it was available, with a 
view to utilize the growth and to test the economic value of the wood. 
" For this purpose some thousands of tree-plants were purchased in the nurseries of 
Oakland and Hay ward and x>lanted along the right of way of the lines running through 
Alameda County, California. The total number planted in this way was about 44,- 
000, mostly Eucalyptus globulus, but including also a good number of E. amygdalina 
and E. rostrata. To anticipate this experiment as a test of the wood, about a thou- 
sand telegraph poles were procured, of the young growth of the Eucalyptus globulus or 
Blue Gum, and also 226 fair-sized railroad tics. The telegraph poles were placed in 
the line along the San Pablo and Tulare Railroad. The railroad ties were placed in 
the track near Rose Creek, Nevada, on the Truckee division, Central Pacific Rail- 
road. This point was , selected because it was found that there the destruction of ties 
by rot was extremely rapid. Mr. Vandenburg's report of the test of the Eucalyptus 
for telegraph poles showed that while they were strong and tough, and bore up the 
wire well under all circumstances, yet they did not last well, as they were inclined 
to rot in the ground, and just at the surface of the ground were attacked by the larvae 
of some large beetle. The Eucalyptus ties placed in the sandy soil of Rose Creek 
very quickly showed a tendency to check or crack in an extraordinary manner, so 
that iu some cases it was found difficult to find a place on them suitable to hold a 
spike; otherwise the ties were very strong and lasted well. After being four years 
in tho track, Roadmaster Browning reported 'no sign of decay.' After being six 
years in the track, slight signs of rot were reported, and two out of two hundred and 
twenty-six were removed for being split. After seven years in the track, two inches 
of rot was reported, and seventy-three were taken out of the track. This would show 
the Blue Gum ties comparing in durability with best Yellow Pine, which is our best 
second-class tie. 
"The trees planted along the track in Alameda County showed great thriftiness of 
growth, and in a few years demonstrated that w ood could be produced in this way 
with surpassing rapidity. In four years some of the trees had reached a height of 24 
