Dammara Australis, Lumb.—From New Zealand. The few specimens we have in the environs of Buenos Aires show a species quite as hardy as in its native land, where it attains a height of 50 metres by 2 metres in diameter. Grown like the eucalyptus in compact groves and in the same region.
Eucalyptus.—Native of Australia. We reckon our specimens of this gigantic tree by the thousand, of several different kinds. The first known specimens of E. globulus were planted more than half a century ago, and now it would take a long time to enumerate all our progressive citizens who have devoted large tracts of land to forming dense groves of these trees, which, besides giving them good returns in the sums represented by the present eucalyptus groves, have also contributed to increase the value of the land, directly or indirectly. Directly, thanks to the amount of vegetable mould which these trees originate, and indirectly for the shelter afforded by them for growing certain kinds of plants and rearing delicate breeds of cattle which would not have thriven in the open country. It would be difficult to estimate the share of the eucalyptus in the increased value of the lands, flocks and herds. In order to form an idea on the subject one must imagine what estancias were sixty years ago, with the sheltering ombú and the peach grove, enclosed by paradise trees and willows. How long it took to grow a tiny grove of willows, paradise tree and black wattle, which barely furnished sufficient wood to heat the water for brewing mate or Paraguayan tea. Different kinds of Eucalyptus are grown under apocryphal specific designations, and therefore we abstain from giving them lest we lead planters into temptation.
The best among them are the following:—
E. Amygdalina, Labill.—From Australia and Tasmania, 140 metres in height by 4 or 5 metres in diameter.
E. Botrioydes, Smith.—From Southern Queensland, where it attains a height of 60 metres by 2 metres in diameter.
E. diversicolor, F. v. M.—From Southern Australia, 140 metres in height, over 2 metres in diameter.
E. cornuta, Labill.—From the same place as the preceding one, 60 metres in height by 2 metres in diameter.
E. hemiphloia, F. v. M.—From New South Wales, where it attains a height of 60 metres by 2 metres in diameter. The best wood of all.
E. leucoxylon, F. v. M.—From New South Wales and Victoria. This is the famous “iron bark”; it is only 30 metres in height by 2 metres in diameter.
E. melliodora, Cunningh.—New South Wales and Victoria. Gives very fine timber and grows to a height of 60 metres by 1·50 metres in diameter. Its blossoms are much visited by bees.