442 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST,  [Jan.  i,  1896. 
Coir  fibre  : Cochin,  fair  to  good,  ill  to  i'20;  Ceylon, 
clean,  £8  to  i9  10s. 
Coir  rope.  to  6 inch,  2J  to  bi  inch,  and  1§  t^ 
I5  inch,  £11  to  £11. 
Bristle  fibre : Medium,  £18  to  £21 ; good,  £29  to 
£30. — Journal  of  the  Society  of  Arts. 
SWAMP  PLANTING. 
Eucalyptus  Glopulus  and  other  Eucalypts. 
Much  has  been  written  from  lime  to  time  on  the 
special  antimalavial  properties  possessed  by  an 
Australian  tree  known  as  F.ucahjptus  ylohulus  and 
such  writings  cause  no  inconsiderable  nuiiiber  of 
enquiries  at  the  Botanical  Establishments  of  West 
Indian  Colonies  for  plants  of  this  species.  It  has 
been  stated  that  the  planting  of  this  tree  ^ has 
lessened  the  amount  of  fever  prevailing  in  the,nei- 
chbourhood  of  the  city  of  Rome  and  in  other  places, 
and  it  is  therefore  regarded  as  a suitable  plant  for 
any  swampy  district,  and  in  this  way,  it  has  become 
a somewhat  popular  idea  that  Fiicalyplus  ylohulus 
should  be  planted  in  all  malarial  districts.  I am 
‘conversant  with  what  has  been  written  on  the 
subject  by  Baron  Von  Mueller  and  various  other 
Botanists-but  without  controverting  one  word  of 
what  they  have  said,  I must  point  out  that  in  our 
case  the  circumstances  and  climate,  are  so  dinerent, 
that  I am  sure  that  even  Von  Mueller  himself  would 
at  once  tell  an  applicant  for  information  that  it 
wou'd  bo  useless  to  plant  under  such:  conditions  of 
climate  as  prevail  in  the  lowlands  of  ; the  est  Indian 
Islands  During  iny  twelve  years  in  J amaica  I planted 
on  plain  and  hill,  and  distributed  year  after  year 
many  hundreds  of  plants  to  others.  Those  on  the 
hills  succeeded,  those  on  the  plains  invariably  failed, 
and  to  plant  in  a swamp  or  near  swampy  ground 
was  found  to  kill  them  at  once.  The  tree^  in  the 
hills  crow  rapidly  and  Von  Mueller,  quoting  from  the 
records  of  the  Department,  states  that  irecs  had 
crown  tiO  feet  high  in  seven  years,  and  having  Oeeii 
personally  in  charge  of  them  for  a pvi'iod  i.i  sis 
^ r ran  fully  oonfirin  the  siatcmem.  Bueali/ptiis 
is  a native  of  the  Southern  parts  of  Australia, 
vA  at  times  the  temperature  falls  below  freciting 
^Vjeie  at  Tasmania,  so  that  it  is 
’in  reality,  a native  of  tropical  regions,  but 
vAmures  as  do  most  plants  coining  from  teinperato 
requites,  vviiiter  to  enable  it  to 
thrive  f ^ 1 
* afford  The  fact  is,  hucaluptns  ulobalus  will  not 
to  , West  Indian  plains,  and  it  planted  it 
^Tnot  survive  for  more  than  a few  monSh.s,  and 
Aoiitation  it  has  somehow  nr  other  obtained 
^ ,h;,TLre  than  a popular  faUacy.  it  we  examine 
T ^ Lon  civen  for  its  reputed  aiiti-in.ilariai  pro- 
the  reaso  slated.  (Von  Muiler,  p.  1511, 
fl’lvntus  leaves  generate  vr.onc  largely  for  the 
A Biicalyptus  lea^^  air;  and  the  volatile  oil  is  very 
purihcat  Earalyplus 
mdiscpDi'-  inanv  other  plants  of  ilie  yenus, 
'^  ‘^L'nLo^of  some  of  our  own  West  Indian  plants, 
and  " therefore  Eucah/ptus  ylohulus  is  proved  to 
La  should  sLk  out  other  trees  of  a suitable 
’ Ator  If  however,  Eucalyptus  ylohulus  will  not 
charactei.  b th^  yams  that  will 
grow  we  have' A.  tcreticonn.s,  and 
• XL  and  others.  Of  the  hist,  we  have  a 
AT.  citnoihi  Gardens  giving  four  feet  in 
tree  in  me  ground, 
diameter  . itself  freely  from  seed,  which  of 
and  yeP^u.  teL  of  its  acclimatization,  but  alihough 
itself  19  a , , j ra  been  continuously  planted 
Eucalyptus  XL’f  sinX  tree  has  Ibriven.  llesides 
for  yeaiP,  . tX  Eucalptii  arc  rank  feeders 
and  “•bsoiueu  malarial 
'to  e thto  i..  Slvint! 
*“  .f, to.t  u.«i»  iiilUietoo  fi-oui 
.T  t manv  West  Indian  or  exotic  ticco  of  similai 
ctLaLei  'vould  answer  as  well  and  serve  the  same 
purpose.  W'o  nity  mention  as  suitable  the  Swamp 
Palm  lluphia  twdiyera,  the  Ivory  Nut  Palm  Ehytelephas 
macrocurpa,  the  Cassuarinas,  the  Saman  Guaugo  or 
Rain  Tree,  Pithecolobiuin,  Baman  and  the  Eterocarpus 
of  our  own  swamps.  Phytelephas  gives  the  ivory 
nut  or  “ corossos”  of  commerce.  Casuarinas  in  India 
have  cost  £1  to  £10  per  acre  to  raise,  returning  in 
eight  years  £13  to  £32,  (Von  Mueller ) ; and  they 
are  suitable  for  saline  soils,  and  “ thrive  much 
bettor  tliau  Eucalyptus  ylohulus  in  Lower  Egypt,” 
(Dr.  Sweinfurth ).  The  wood  is  admirable  for  fuel, 
aud  the  tree  lias  been  proved  to  do  well  and 
grow  rapidly  on  the  Trinidad  Lowlands.  The 
Saman  is  well  kuowii  for  its  beautiful  wood  and 
fast  growing  properties  and  the  Pterocarpus  give 
the  Dragon’s  olood  of  commerce : but  even  such 
trees  us  these  if  planted  dircdly  into  a swamp, 
will  probaoly  fail  for  many  reason ; but  if  planted 
ou  small  hillocks  in  01  near  such  places,  they  will 
thrive  and  do  well’  and  ultimately  take  possession 
of  it.  Some  may  dispute  the  fact  that  Eucalyptus 
ylohulus  will  not  grow  in  the  districts  indicated, 
aud  reference  may  bo  made  to  plants  existing. 
I:i  such  case  I would  recommend  the  cultivator 
to  make  sure  of  the  species  he  has  growing;  for 
it  may  be  safely  assumed  that  it  is  not  the  plant 
supposed,  but  a species  of  the  yenus  more  suited  to 
our  climate.  Toe  species  of  Eucalptii  most  suitable 
for  cnltivatioii  hero  are  those  coming  from  the  hottest 
and  most  tropical  portions  of  Australia,  such  as  the 
districts  in  the  vicinity  of  Port  Darwin  or  the  most 
northern  portion  of  the  territoiy,  aud  not  those 
coming  from  the  southern  or  more  temperate  regions. 
12  .June,  1981  J.  H.  H 
VAKfOL'S  PLANTING  NOTES. 
Thu  Danoeu  of  Weed  Killeus. — We  would  draw 
the  aite  Uon  of  all  who  handle  weed-killers  to  the 
exceedingly  poisonous  elements  sometimes  included 
ill  sui  h pi  ’ jifuatii  ns.  Messrs.  Spiers  & Pond  were 
ixcvD'iy  ’.I..  :I  £.5  and  £5  5s.  costs  f- r selling  what 
was  .li.cgi  d <1  I'C  a preparation  of  arsenic,  without 
entering  tiu-  iniiaiiire  and  addiess  of  the  purchaser. 
Tne  proparalioii  was  sold  as  a weed-kdier,  and  it 
said  to  have  contained  75  per  cent,  of  arsenic,  and 
25  per  cent,  of  caustic  soda,  in  all  2 lb.  13  oz.  or 
Buflic’ent  to  kill  (iOOO  persons.  Apart  from  the  danger 
which  might  result  to  those  buying  such  mixtures 
without  due  kiiow'edgo  of  their  contents,  there  is 
110  small  risk  involved  if  such  violent  poisons  are 
left  l>ing  about  in  positions  easily  accescible  to 
children  aud  others  ignorant  of  their  nature  or  con- 
tents.— tlardcuers'  Chronicle. 
“JoUKN.u,  OF  THE  Kew  Guied.” — Wo  liavc  already 
alluded  to  the  leceiit  publication  of  ilic  number  of 
May,  1895,  auD  may  now  give  some  indication  for 
iis  c uueut.s.  It  • pens  wi  h a poitrait  and  brief 
memo  r of  Sir  William  Hooker,  the  first  Director. 
What  he  did,  how  greae  was  liis  courtesy,  and  how 
potent  his  aid  to  young  gardeners  aud  students, 
is  held  in  gnteful  remembrance  by  the  older  gene- 
ration, and  it  is  well  that  the  new-comers  should 
be  made  acquainted  with  the  facts  also.  The  main 
purpose  of  the  guild,  that  of  linking  the  Kew  gar- 
deners of  the  past  with  thoso  of  the  present,  seems 
to  have  been  well  aecoinplishnd,  and  no  doubt  the 
circulation  of  the  present  number  will  still  further 
promote  that  eo-operatioii  aud  good  fellowship  which 
arc  so  desirable.  The  items  of  Kow  news  have 
mostl>  been  published  already  in  the  gardening 
papers,  hut  it  is  very  useful  to  have  them  collected 
in  so  convenient  a form.  The  notes  from  far  off 
members  in  all  quarters  of  tho  globe  arc  most  in- 
teresting, and  constitute  a fcatuio  which  wc  would 
fain  hope  may  bo  much  extended.  Some  notices 
of  old  Kewites  who  have  jiasscd  away  will  be  of 
interest  to  many  who  still  hold  their  memory  dear. 
There  are  some  muissions  which  will  probably  be 
made  good  in  subsequent  issno.-i.  Tho  list  ot  old 
Kew  men  will  jirovc  very  serviceable.  Wo  congra- 
tulate the  pioniotevs  on  tho  progress  of  the  guild, 
and  most  heartily  wish  it  all  attainable  success.— Ibid, 
