44 
Theodore Payne, Seedsman and Nurseryman 
TRANSPLANTING. When the seedlings are 2 to 3 
inches high they are ready for transplanting, but 
they must first be hardened off by exposing them 
to the sun; transplant to the same kind of boxes 
as already mentioned, 100 to a box, in perfect rows 
or checks, using the same kind of soil as that in 
which the seed was sown though a trifle heavier 
or less sandy. Fill the boxes, press down the soil 
and smooth off the surface then mark the soil off 
by lines into ten divisions each way and plant 
where lines cross, 100 to a box. This may be done 
by marking the edges of sides of box and using 
a small straight edge that will drop inside of box 
or any other contrivance that will check off the 
soil in centers of 100 to each box. A method often 
used by commercial growers is to have a board 
just the size of the inside of the box; in this are 
placed 100 screws, set at the right distance apart 
for the trees; the heads of the screws are left 
protruding about % of an inch from the board. 
This board is laid on the smooth surface of the 
soil and hammered slightly with a wooden mallet, 
thus making 100 impressions at the exact places 
for the plants. In planting, make a hole for 
each seedling with a sharpened stick about the 
size of a lead pencil, firming the soil after put¬ 
ting in the plant. Sprinkle a thin layer of sand 
over the surface of the soil; this helps to hold 
the moisture and will keep the surface from bak¬ 
ing. Before the young seedlings are taken from 
the seed box or bed they should have a thorough 
watering so that they will come out of the soil 
easily without breaking the roots, which must not 
be allowed to dry on any account during the process 
of transplanting. When growing the plants for sale 
it is advisable to grade seedlings into sizes at the 
time of transplanting, so that when the plants are 
ready for sale they will be of an even size in one 
box and the boxes containing the larger size plants 
can be sold first and the smaller ones later in the 
season. As soon as the seedlings are transplanted 
they must be watered thoroughly and set in com¬ 
plete shade for a few days until they thoroughly 
recuperate; after that they should be gradually hard¬ 
ened to the sun and cared for until they are ready 
to set out in the field. 
PLANTING OUT IN THE FIELD. The land should be 
plowed as deeply as possible and well harrowed. 
The time to plant varies according to the climatic 
conditions. In localities where there is little or no 
frost, planting may be done in the winter time, thus 
getting the benefit of the rains, but in sections 
where frost prevails, it should be deferred until 
spring. The size at which the plants are best to 
set out is from 6 to 10 inches. The boxes may be 
taken to the field and left at convenient points. One 
side of the box should be taken off and each plant 
cut out with a square of earth and then planted 
with a trowel, taking care not to break this ball 
of earth, and the plants should be set about one 
inch deeper than they were in the box. A quart or 
so of water should be given to each tree as soon 
as it is set and afterwards hoe a little dry soil 
up around each plant. The distance at which to 
set the young trees varies according to the species, 
the soil and the purpose for which they are grown. 
On heavy soils where irrigation is not practiced, 
they may be planted 6x6 feet apart, where irrigating 
and cultivating is practiced 4x8 feet is a suitable 
distance and leaves an 8-foot space for plowing and 
irrigating. On lighter soils 8x8 feet is a good dis¬ 
tance. Some are planting 7x8 feet on the alternate 
or triangle system, placing the trees 8 feet apart 
in the rows and 7 feet between the rows, which 
makes the trees 8 feet apart every way. It is 
claimed for this system that they do not throw so 
much shadow and get a more even amount of sun¬ 
light, causing the trees to make a straighter and 
more even growth when young. 
CARE OF THE YOUNG TREES. As the value of the 
grove depends largely upon the trees making a 
good start, it will pay wherever practical to irri¬ 
gate and cultivate the trees for at least the first 
two seasons. 
THINNING THE TREES. To produce good lumber it 
is necessary that the trees grow straight. Close 
planting induces a straight growth. It is therefore 
better to plant closely and at the end of the first 
season grub out all weak and inferior trees. 
SPECIES TO PLANT FOR PROFIT. Eucalyptus trees 
are gross feeders and to be grown profitably require 
a deep, rich soil with a fair amount of moisture, 
and only under these conditions will they make 
good, straight timber trees. When planted on poor 
or impoverished soil they make stunted, crooked 
trees, which are worthless for timber purposes. The 
best species to plant for profit depends largely upon 
the locality where the trees are to be grown. For 
general timber purposes, taking all conditions and 
uses into consideration, E. tereticornis is considered 
the most profitable tree to plant. But in sections 
where E. globulus, “Blue Gum," thrives there will 
be quicker returns by planting this species than 
any other. For the hot interior sections E. tereti¬ 
cornis and E. rostrata are recognized as the leading 
commercial kinds, while E. viminalis might be grown 
very profitably under the same conditions. In lo¬ 
calities not subject to frost E. corynocalyx may be 
planted. For those who have the right conditions 
and can afford to wait longer for returns E. resini- 
fera will probably prove one of the most profitable 
on account of its very valuable wood, which Is used 
for furniture and interior finishing and is imported 
very largely by railway companies for the inside 
of cars under the trade name of Australian Mahog¬ 
any. 
SPECIES FOR FENCE POSTS. This is an important 
item on large ranches. By setting aside a small 
portion of land a great quantity of fence posts could 
be produced in a few years. The best species for 
this purpose are E. tereticornis, E. robusta, E. ros¬ 
trata and E. corynocalyx. 
SPECIES FOR WIND-BREAKS. This is also of great 
importance in many parts of the country where 
heavy winds prevail. Probably the best species for 
this purpose are E. globulus, E. botryoldes, E. ro¬ 
busta, E. cornuta, E. diversicolor and E. polyan- 
thema, and for irrigated sections on the desert, E. 
rudis. 
Eucalyptus seed vessels, spread out on canvas to dry 
PHOTOGRAPH BY T. P. LUKENB 
EUCALYPTUS AMYGDALINA. “Peppermint Gum.” An 
exceedingly tall growing tree; in fact, to this species 
belong probably the tallest trees in the world. 
Baron Von Mueller having recorded trees over 400 
feet high and with diameters of 18 to 35 feet. The 
tree is very variable in growth, however, the great 
heights mentioned being attained in moist ravines; 
under less favorable conditions it forms a much 
smaller tree, and in some cases is comparatively 
dwarf. The timber is useful for shingles, flooring, 
etc., but does not usually last well under ground. 
One of the most valuable for oil, producing more 
volatile oil than any other species yet tested. Rec¬ 
ommended for planting in swampy places as a pre¬ 
ventative for yellow fever, etc. Pkt. 15c, oz. 76c, 
lb. $7.50. 
E. AMYGDALINA, VAR. ANGUSTIFOLIA. See E. line¬ 
aris. 
E. AMPLIFOLIA. Much resembling E. tereticornis, 
but having large, almost round leaves when in the 
young state; generally known in California as the 
“Cooper" or “Round-leaf tereticornis.” In corre¬ 
spondence I received from Professor J. H. Maiden in 
regard to this tree he states that it is known botan- 
ically under the above name, under which it was 
described by Naudin. Professor Maiden states, how¬ 
ever, that it is possible that this tree should, prop¬ 
erly speaking, be treated as a variety of E. tereti¬ 
cornis, but he is not prepared to say further until 
he deals with E. tereticornis and its varieties in his 
"Critical Revision of the Genus Eucalyptus and 
Forest Flora of New South Wales.” The wood is 
similar to that of E. tereticornis, and this tree has 
been planted quite extensively in California for com¬ 
mercial purposes. It forms a handsome tree, and 
is valuable for ornamental purposes. Pkt. 16c, oz. 
$1.00, lb. $10.00. 
