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Pomona College Journal of Economic Botany 



There are some sections poorly adapted to the cultivation of the more valuable 

 crops where Eucalyptus timber will undoubtedly be a very ricli investment. There 

 are many Australian or Californian species which would do well under conditions 

 of moderately large amounts of rain, such as Eucalyptus globulus and Eu. coryno- 

 calyx. On the other hand, the two species Eu. rostrata and Eu. tereticornis thrive 

 very well with little moisture and would, therefore, be admirably adapted to 

 growth in the Tehuantepec Isthmus territory where the rains are more infrequent 

 than further north or further south. All of these varieties are succeeding well 

 in Cuba and Porto Rico. 



The value of eucalyptus is very great both for use as hardwood timber to re- 

 place mahogany and other similar woods, and also for use in railroad construction 

 as ties and telegraph poles. As a hard wood, many species, notably Eu. globulus, 

 take a very high and permanent polish and show a most beautiful grain. For use 

 as railroad sleepers and ties the wood is quite unparalleled because of its resistance 

 to rot. Although these species are known to possess these qualities in places where 

 they have been tried, yet it must be a matter of experimentation in any new region. 

 Possibly other species under other conditions may surpass these in value. 



In many parts of Mexico there are grown very inferior grades of several of 

 our temperate fruits. The production is not very great, but just enough to show 

 that great results could be obtained by modern methods, since the trees can easily 

 be acclimatized and all that is necessary now is proper management both of tree 

 and soil. Durasnos (peaches) may be purchased at almost any market in season, 

 but they are almost invariably hard, small, and more or less tasteless. This con- 

 dition, it is true, is due partially to ignorance in picking, since they are seldom 

 allowed to even approach maturity on the tree, but even beyond this the quality 

 may be greatly improved by introducing and acclimatizing bud-wood from better 

 varieties, and growing nursery stock for distribution in the various belts. Im- 

 ported nursery stock of these, as of any other fruit trees, could hardly be expected 

 to compete with home grown stock. In the southern portion of the state of Oax- 

 aca, in the Oaxaca valley and also near Tomellin further north, conditions are 

 most admirably suited to extensive deciduous farming; in may other localities, 

 also, as in the Toluca Valley near Mexico City, may parts of the State of Jalisco, 

 and other places. 



The great value in peach culture, or in deciduous fruit culture in general, 

 is attested by the tremendous retail price commanded by imported deciduous fruit 

 in any of the large cities. In Mexico City or Vera Cruz a very common price to 

 pay for improved peaches, imported, is from thirty-five to fifty cents (gold) per 

 pound. Pears, apricots, plums and all the other temperate deciduous fruits, when 

 imported, command a ridiculously high price. There is absolutely no reason why 

 these improved varieties may not be grown in many parts of Mexico and thereby 

 place on the local markets fruit fully equal in all respects to the California fruit 

 and at the same time at a very reasonable price. 



The adaptation of many parts of Mexico to temperate fruit culture is beyond 

 dispute. As has been pointed out the topographical and climatic conditions vary 

 more widely than in any other country in the world. The mild and even climate 



