268 



The "Plant World 



consider taxonomy as a court of last resort in dealing with the 

 results of purely physiological operations in breeding and 

 heredity. If this lesson results in a more judicial attitude on 

 the part of the botanist toward results in breeding and experi- 

 mental evolution, the misjudged attack on the Wonderberry will 

 have been not without good lesults. 



A recent trip in southern California brought to view more 

 than one proof, if any were needed, of the progressiveness of 

 the up-to-date people who inhabit that favored land. One of 

 these is the eucalyptus industry. It appears that there 

 are already about 25 companies incorporated under the 

 laws of California, and two or three times as many 

 companies not incorporated, that are pointing out the certain 

 road to wealth, by embarking in the enterprise of planting 

 eucalyptus trees. In their office in Los Angeles, very beautiful 

 specimens of woodwork are to be seen made from "Blue Gum," 

 "Australian mahogany," and other species. Illustrated lec- 

 tures are given and literature is libeially distributed. One of 

 the most conservative of the concerns heads its first page "$12,- 

 000 profit every 10 years for every man who plants 5 acres of 

 commercial eucalyptus." 



The impossibility of over-production is pointed out as one 

 of the strongest features of the growth of the industry. Com- 

 parisons are made of the rapidity of growth of eucalyptus and 

 other woods Methods of planting and care are described, and 

 the possible investor is told that this is "better than grain or 

 cotton or fruit, because weather conditions do not affect eucalyp- 

 tus After the roots reach the sub-irrigated strata, the tree 

 grows, rain or shine," and finally "plant a eucalyptus grove". 



Without attempting to even guess on the probability of 

 realization of what is so confidently offered as an unparalled 

 opportunity, it is of interest to reflect that a great experiment 

 is being inaugurated, the observation of which from year to year 

 can hardly fail to yield valuable scientific results. Here are a 

 number of different species planted side by side, each with its 



