PROPAGATION AND CARE OF EUCALYPTS. 45 
are propagated from the seed with great difficulty. For example, the 
Red Gum (Lucalyptus rostrata), which grows quite well in southern 
Arizona from seedlings obtained from California, is propagated at 
Phoenix from seed with considerable difficulty. The case is similar 
to that of the orange tree, which, though thriving in the vicinity of 
Phoenix can not be easily grown there from seed. Asarule, however, 
Eucalypts that are well adapted to a region and thrive in it seem to 
be fairly easy to propagate there. The ease with which seedlings 
can be grown in any region may often, therefore, be taken as an 
indication of how well the adult trees will grow there. 
Eucalypts are not commonly propagated in open soil, but in seed 
boxes, and ordinarily they need some protection from cold and from 
the sun during their early stages. Most species make a slow growth 
at first and are quite delicate, but when once fairly established they 
grow very rapidly. 
PLANTING THE SEED. 
The usual method of starting EKucalypts is to sow the seed in shallow 
boxes in especially prepared soil. A mixture of coarse sand and leaf- 
mold (two parts of mold to one of sand) is the best. This is placed in 
boxes a few inches deep; the seed is strewn quite thickly over the sur- 
face; a light covering of sand is placed on top, and this surface is then 
kept constantly moist. The young plants commonly appear in one or 
two weeks. After germination has taken place the soil should be kept 
moist but not wet. If kept too damp the young plants will be attacked 
by parasitic fungi and perish rapidly——*‘ damp off,” as gardeners term 
it. Applying the water about the middle of the forenoon, so that the 
soil and plants have time to become partially dry before night, is a 
precaution helpful in preventing damping off. In the experience of 
the writer there is nothing better for freshly sown seed, or for young 
plants, than a watering by a rainfall. Leaving the seed boxes out 
during a light rain will often start seed that artificial watering for 
weeks has failed to bring up, and young plants are very much refreshed 
and invigorated by a shower of rain. 
Before transplanting it is well to harden the young plants by giving 
them only sufficient water to prevent wilting during the heat of the 
day. After a week or so, when they have become more woody, water 
should be applied freely for a few days, and they will then be in a 
better condition for transplanting than if this treatment is omitted. 
TRANSFERRING TO FRESH SOIL. 
When the young seedlings are 2 or 3 inches high, they should be 
transplanted into flats of fresh soil, putting in the plants about 2 
inches apart each way. (PI. 1X, a.) Thissoil may contain less sand and 
more leaf mold than the seed bed. A mixture of leaf mold, sand, and 
