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face. In many localities the lack of water is supplied by irrigation, 

 but as a rule irrigated land is too valuable for commercial plantations. 

 Atmospheric moisture is not at all necessar}^; on the contrary the 

 tree grows fastest with its roots close to water and its crown exposed 

 to the sun and wind. 



Blue gum develops a strong taproot and a vigorous secondary 

 root system, both of which are capable of penetrating to considerable 

 depths in search of moisture. 



The tree is extremely intolerant of shade. Its seedlings thrive for 

 a time beneath the old trees, but if the cover is at all dense they make 

 only a slow growth. This indicates the need of so managing a grove 

 that each individual has its crown entirely free. 



It is practically free from injurious insects and fungi. Damage 

 f rora wind is to be feared only on very shallow soil. 



ECONOMIC USES. 



The wood is very heavy, hard, strong, and tough, but not durable. 

 It is eas}^ to split when first felled, but not after it has dried. It 

 resembles hickory in many of its qualities, but is extremely difficult 

 to season. The trees are sometunes sawed into lumber and used for 

 wagon work and agricultural implements, though for none of these 

 purposes is the wood as good as that of several native species. It is 

 coming into use for j)iles in sea water, and it appears to be quite 

 valuable for that purpose, though the trials are not yet conclusive. 

 Its chief value at present is as firewood, for which it is in constant 

 demand in parts of California where other good fuel is scarce. This 

 recommends it for commercial plantations. Another important use 

 of the tree is for windbreaks to protect orange and lemon orchards 

 from the high winds that are prevalent in many parts of the fruit- 

 growing section. Xo other tree will make so good a shelterbelt in 

 so short a time as blue gum. 



METHODS OF PROPAGATION. 



The blue gum reproduces freely both by seeds and by stump 

 sprouts. Plantations must be established by seedlings, but the vigor 

 of the sprouts recommends that means of renewing a grove when it 

 is cut. 



The seeds are produced in large quantities every year. Most of 

 them ripen in the fall, usually just before the rains. The fruit 

 should be gathered before the valves open, and spread on sheets in 

 the sun. In a few days the seeds will be freed and may be easily 

 separated from the hulls and chaff. The}^ should be planted at once 

 in shallow boxes filled with not less than 3 or 4 inches of sandy 

 loam, or in small paper or bamboo pots. The box most commonly " 



[Cir, 59] 



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