68 NATIVE FLOWERS OF VICTORIA. 
large and glossy ; it produces dense panicles of prom- 
inent flowers; and it grows with a flne round bole 
and an upright stem. Whether grown as an indi- 
vidual tree, as a background belt, or as a hedge, it 
is always noticeable and pleasant. Of aU Eucalypts, 
this species responds most readily to pruning and 
trimming. It may be cut back and shaped, when it 
wiU respond with a vigorous and plentiful growth, 
breaking away low down, sometimes to the base of 
the trunk. In one of our inland towns some very 
flne avenues of sugar gum were growing in the streets. 
These had to be considerably reduced, owing to the 
introduction of electric-lighting wires. In every 
instance, dozens of trees were cut off direct into the 
main trunk, about ten feet from the ground; all the 
limbs were lopped off, and nothing but the trunk 
was left. The trees aU shortly after broke away into 
a strong and bushy growth from verj’’ many dormant 
buds, forming a dense and compact top. Subse- 
quently, a fine head was formed on each tree and very 
few trees died as a result of this severe treatment. 
Experienced tree-pruners would never have dared 
to treat the trees so drastically, but the result attained 
is a response and a reward to the unconscious follow- 
ing out of the old proverb: “ Fools rush in, where 
angels fear to tread.” Not that all experienced tree- 
pruners are angels, by any means. 
In one of our mountainous districts, a row of this 
species was once grown as a hedge, the young plants 
being planted about eighteen inches apart. The 
hedge was trimmed as any ordinary hedge would be, 
and formed quite a good compact growth, not unlike 
