512 
tut TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Not. 2, 1903* 
npply might be assured. I'here are few species of 
Eucalyptus, however, which form the ■prevailiog vege- 
tation in certain localities, and are found growing gre- 
gariously in their native habitat: this is pa,rticQlarIy 
<he case with some of the " Mallees." In New South 
Wales there are several species of this nature, as, 
for instance, the "Blue Mallee," E. polyhraetea ', the 
"Red " or "Water Mallee," E. oleosa the "Grey Mallee" 
E. Morrisii; and the " Argyle apple " E. cinerea ; 
all these species give good eucalyptol oils, and all are 
more or less gregarious in their habits, so that 
natural plantations of these species are practically 
ready to hand ; but besides thesa naturally covered 
areas the question of the cultivation of certain Eu- 
calyptus species is of importance in this connection 
It may possibly be accepted as oonclnsive that some 
•Eucalyptus species are not inexhaustible under certain 
conditions, and it is worthy of consideration whether 
plantations of young trees o£ Eucalyptus MaeaHhuri 
for instance, mi(<ht not be profitably cultivated for 
the preparation of its valuable geranyl-acetate oil. 
So with the eucalyptol oils, it is probable that the 
cultivation of some species, E. Smifhii for instance, 
could be profitably under taken, and from which 
young growth an oil could be distilled that would 
compete satisfatctorily, both in price 'and eucalytol 
contentp, with any European oil of this class. 
A minor fault running all through their book is 
their use of the word "sucker". By "sucker " is pro- 
perly understood shoots from the roots, such one 
sees in poplars, elms and willows. Encalypts do not 
snoker (except rarelv and accidentally) and the authors 
use the word in the sense of "coppice shoot". No 
doubt "sucker" is an Anstrnlian colloquialaism, but 
naturally the use of slang expressions is to be avoided 
in a scientific work. To be accurate the authors 
should use the term early or first foliage, or its equiva- 
lent, since this important diagnostic feature is seen 
in the first foliage of Euoalypt seedlings equally 
with coppice shoots. 
FOBESTHY IN ArSTHALIA, 
As yet no one of the Australian colonies has taken 
the first step in scientific forestry. Though Mr. Maiden 
in his various writings has let in a flood of light on 
the subject, and the student of Eucalypts stands 
deeply in his debt, there is not a line by scientifically 
trained foresters descriptive of the forests of Australia 
There is no want of liberality on the part of Australia 
in endowing the researches of scientific men living 
in cities, but theie is a woeful neglect of forestry in 
the field. Scientific forestry as understood on the 
Continent of Europe is unknown in Australia, and 
unless the commonwealth can bring its attention to 
bear on the terrible waste of its natural forest re- 
sources now going forward, its future history will be 
a black one, comparable only in modern times to that 
of the Spaniards in Mexico. 
In the older settlements of East Australia the forests 
pillaged of their best species, or burnt and ruired, 
have greatly declined in value. Gone are the valu- 
able reserves of iron-bark, tallow-wood, and forest 
mahogany among the Eucalypts and the splendid 
cedars (Cedrela toona) which should have been the 
country's pride. South Africa is getting most of its 
timber from the comparatively newly settled West 
Australia, The Austrilian has yet to learn to take 
the honey without destroying the bees! 
When your reviewer takes ns to America, we get 
amongst a people awakening to the fact that there ie 
such a thing as scientific forestry. As he remarks 
the American volume on jHucalypts is excelleutly got 
np. It is a pleasure to turn over the pages with their 
life-like pictures of EucalvptB. It is not likely, how- 
ever, that there will ever be any great production of 
Eucalypt timber in north America. It is only South 
California that quite repoats any Australian climate, 
namely South- West AuRtralia It is doubtful if Eu- 
calypts will ever do much in the eastern State?. The 
Gulf States, which are alone suited to Eucalypts, have 
their cold snaps and freezes, together with an all the 
jjrefw-roaucl raintall which we do not fiad in Anatralia 
while there is an abundance of good hardwood already 
in the country, and the four pitch-pines, rivaling 
hardwoods in strength and durability. Eucalypt 
culture in America is still in its infanny , they have 
not yet discriminated the valuable from the many 
worthless species, nor fitted, as far as may be, the 
species to its climate- D. E. Hutchins. 
E. HuTCHINS.g 
Cape Town, June 23. — Isiature, 
MURVA FIBEE (SANSEVIERIA ZEYL.4NICA) 
FROM THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. 
An enaniry relating to the value of .samnles of 
Murva fibre grown experimentally in the Straits 
Settlements, was referred to the' Imperial In.sti- 
tnte bv the Commercial Department of the Board 
of Trade. 
The^sample which was first forwarded orly 
weighed 2'B grams, and is stated to have been 
extracted from a single leaf. It had a white, 
lustrous aopearanee and a staple of about .50 cm, 
(20 ins.l. A second sample was afterwards re- 
ceived, which was very similar in character ani 
appearance to the first, except that it had a very 
slieht yellowish tinge. 
Owing to the small amount of fibre available, 
a complete chemical examination could not be 
carried out, but the following determinations 
were made by the usual methods. For com- 
parison, the results furnished by the examina- 
tion of other specimens of the fibre of So nse- 
vieria, zeylanira by the Scientific and Tea.ching 
Department of the Imperial Institute are also 
quoted : — 
MURVA FIBRE (SANSEVIERIA ZEYLANICA) FROM THE 
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. 
u ■ u S - 
ft fl ft 
H 
ft 
<i 
0-7 
■1-4 
0-7 
75 0 1-^ mm. 
72 7 1 — ,5 mm. 
75-6 1-5-3 5 mm. 
.3 § Mt* 
straits Settlements 
Grenada „. ... Q-.") 
Assam ... .. 9.4 
Colonial and Indian 
Exhibition (Cross & 
Bevan) 9-7 - 731 1 -5-3 mm 
From these results it appears that the fibre from 
belangor is fully equal in quality to specimens 
obtained from other sources. 
The fibre has also been submitted for eommer 
cial valuation rotwo leading firms of fibre brokers 
who were informed of the favourable results which 
it had furnished on chemical examination. One 
firm reports that the sample is a very strong 
clear, hard fibre, of good coloui but rather short 
and tapering ; it is coarser, and not quite so soft 
and pliable as is usual for the fibre of Sansevieria 
Zeylanica. Owing to the want of regular supplies 
the fibre has not a recognised position on the 
London market, but consignments of long staple 
have been so.d at very high prices. The value 
of the present specimen is given at about 35?. per 
ton (Sisal hemp being now 37?. per ton), but if 
long and of similar quality it would be worth 
40<. per ton and upwards. 
The other brokers to whom the fibre was sub- 
mitted value it at 33?. per ton. and 36?. per ton 
if bright white," at which prices they state it 
would meet with ready sale. 
It would appear from these reports that these 
samples of flbte of Santpvieria Zeylanica are of 
good quality, and that consignments of similar 
character would probably meet with a ready sale 
on the Loudon market.— .Som-ei 0/ Trade Jmmdl; 
