THE BIGGEST "BIG TREES."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 238, 13 November 1909, Page 6

THE BIGGEST "BIG TREES."

That the tallest trees in the world are not the California!! "big trees" at all, bin thu Australian eucalyptus, will be a surprise In many Americans, but not to thuse wliu have visited the forests of Australia. In that laud grow trees that timer in tile air LjUli higher than I lie great :Sequoia. Some specimens of the cucalytus amygdaliua reaeii to a height of -ISOl'l, ami specimens abound that aiv from 120 to 200 feet in eireumtcrcncc. The larger ones are practically of no use tor commercial purposes, as the expense of cutting them down and splitting them up is so great that these monsters are passed by the thrifty lumbermen for the smaller ones that are more easily handled. This information we glean' from an article by Egerton 11. Young on "The Tallest Tree that Grows," which appears in "The National Geographic .Magazine (Washington). Says .Mr. Young: "The eucalyptus ainygdalin is the tallest if not perhaps the largest, tree that grows. .Specimens oyer 400 feet high are lrcquently found, while some have he'll measured towering up to 470 and JSO feet. The timber of these great specimens are easily worked, and as it does not 'warp readily, is much used in carpentry. "lu an illustration (in the Natiomu Geographic llagazinu) is shown the method adopted by the skilled lumbermen of Australia in felling the eucalyptus trees that are not too large for their purpose. The bottom of the eucalyptus is generally so gnarled and twisted that the men construct a rough, but safe, platform, averaging from 12 to 20 great long-handled axes and saws, they work and toil until the giant tree that perhaps for over a thousand yeats has lifted up its head in that land of almost perpetual sunshine, is laid low. "From another illustration we can form some idea of the magnitude of Oh.B of these giant eucalyptus tics, lu a great cavernous opening in its side was sullicient room for a commodious kitchen, with all its appliances, for the 'accommodation of Lord Ilopetouu, ye. veruor-General of Australia, and his suite, during one of his visits to oiw 'of the regions where these gigantic trem abound in the State of Victoria.

'The eucalyptus tree is a genus of trees and shrubs of the natural order of Myrtacioa, embracing about 150 species. All but four of them are natives of Australia and Tasmania only. The eucalyptus trees are su abundant in many parts of Australia that over vast areas they are practically the only trees visible. The fact that the fuil'y developed trees arc destitute of symmetry and beauty robs the great Australian'woodid regions of that attractiveness and charm which give such pleasure to the primeval forests of America."

One striking characteristic of several varieties of eucalyptus, w e are told, i» that, while th:-y do not shed their leaves, they slough oft their bark in long strips every year. The leaves, which have a leathery appearance, contain a volatile oil with a bitter aromatic taste, which is used as a remed v lor various diseases. We read furtuer:

"The eucalyptus globulus, general y called the hluegiiiH, from its bluishgreen leaves, is tlie variety most success, lully grown in California, it has also been introduced and Uourijhes in iniT.a, "Natal, Egypt, Algeria, and in various parts of Southern Europe, and in some other warm countries, it cannot stand the frost, and so must be classed amongst tropical trees. Perhaps only m the States of Florida aud CaliionilaTcan we expect to sec it in perfection in the country; yet, although its introduction into California has been of but recent date,, already its "alue to that StaU .has been very considerable. Its growth here has been so rapid that trees of SO feet in height and over a foot in diameter have been developed from the small planting of a dozen years. Its rapid growth makes it a valuable acquisition to those lands where in so many instances thero was such a lack of forest trees of general utility. In California its timber is being extensively used for telegraph poles, railroad ties, for fencing purposes, and in the manufacture of some kinds of furniture.

Some of the species of eucalyptus are much more valuable than others.. There is also a great diversity both in their appearance and worth. One of the most valuable is the euealytpus marginata, popular called the jarrah wood, it grows to a great size, and its timber is so hard that it is found to be especially valuable in the construction of wharves, as it resists the attack of the ship worms and borers that are so frequently destructive to ordinary woud. Because of this quality it is also enters largely into tile construction of ships and is utilised in other marine uses.

"Some varieties of the eucalyptus yield a kind of astringent gam or "resin called vino, while from others a specimen of manna, a hard, little, sweet substance— is obtained in considerable qua'iiilies. As an antidote against malalia --■ ml as being valuable iu warding oil' or dissipating malaria in regions where ma'bria abounds, the eucalyptus has obtained a considerable reputation.