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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



may cite the character of the bark as already referred to, the 

 presence or absence of sterile stamens, the arrangement, structure, 

 and dehiscence of anthers, peculiarities of fruit, sections of 

 petioles, and uniformity or otherwise of the number of stomata 

 on the upper and under surfaces of the leaf. 



The " Blue-gum " (E. globulus) is a lofty tree, remarkable for 

 the quickness of its growth. In some parts of Europe it is 

 popularly called the "Fever-tree" on account of its value in 

 malarial regions. It rapidly absorbs the excessive moisture in 

 marshy places, and freely exhales its valuable antiseptic oil. Its 

 timber is of a very durable character, and as it is of exceptionally 

 rapid growth it has been largely planted abroad. It owes its 

 popular name to the bluish tinge of the waxy bloom that covers 

 the calyces and the foliage of young plants. 



The " Red-gum " (E. rostrata) prefers low-lying situations, 

 and may usually be seen near the watercourses in almost every 

 part of the continent. It takes its vernacular name from the 

 colour of the timber, which for its durability in such places as 

 are usually favourable to the rapid decay of timbers has 

 probably only one rival in the Jarrah (E. marginata) of Western 

 Australia. 



The gem of the genus from a horticultural standpoint is 

 unquestionably E.ficifolia. Its strikingly handsome dark green 

 foliage, to which it owes its specific name, forms a fitting con- 

 trast to the gorgeous crimson flowers which this magnificent 

 species bears in such profusion. Other brilliantly coloured 

 species are E. miniata and E. Phcenicea, both of which yield 

 flowers of a bright scarlet colour. 



The " Sugar-gum" (E. corynocahjx) produces sweetish foliage, 

 which affords food for stock in seasons of drought. 



Time and space would fail even to refer to the many other 

 meritorious species. In addition to the useful timber, many 

 yield large quantities of the Eucalyptus oil, which is largely 

 and increasingly used in medical practice. The result of a 

 series of elaborate experiments seems to prove that E. amygdalina 

 is far richer in oil than any other species. The Eucalypts 

 claimed our first attention owing to their wide distribu- 

 tion and the immense areas they cover, as well as for their 

 towering height, their economic value, and, in some cases at 

 least, for the unsurpassed beauty of their blossoms. However, 



