Studies in Eucalyptus

St. Louis, MO: Eucalyptus Timber Corp., 1910. Pamphlet. Very good overall. A promotional publication of the Eucalyptus Timber Corporation of St. Louis, touting the commercial advantages of Eucalyptus groves. Page 5 quotes "$2500 planted today in Eucalyptus, under proper care and management, will produce $25,000 every ten years the rest of your life and that of your children as well...". The "forest reserves" were located at Pixley, California. Mr. Graves states that "information regarding the diameter and height of the various Eucalypts illustrated herein was secured by the writer from PERSONAL measurements, and the age was supplied direct from the owner of the grove. These facts and figures are absolutely correct and are NOT subject to ANY discount. They are published with full knowledge that you, YOURSELF, may seek to verify, and if found faulty, our chance of developing your grove is dead. This data was secured at a great expense of time and labor..."

The history of the Eucalypts in California is interesting. "Tobacco heir Abbot Kinney's feverish love for the tree translated into a landscape-altering affair. Known today as the developer of Venice, Kinney served as state forester from 1886 to 1888. During this time he promoted eucalyptus and even distributed free seeds across the region. Eucalyptus at the time was valued for its use as an ornamental, a windbreak, for its oils with antiseptic and anti-malarial properties, and was seen as the answer to the shortage of Appalachian hardwood in the early 1900's. Myths of 500-foot trees were born and people dreamed of the profits one could glean from such a tree. In 1913 a U.S. Department of Agriculture report confirmed that eucalyptus wood was unsuitable for most timber uses once dried. Trouble in paradise." Despite this report, the shift towards "native" plants and blame for increasing bush fires, the eucalyptus has entered the symbolism of California, along with redwoods, poppy fields, long white coastal beaches and the High Sierra.

8vo, 96pp, b&w photographs throughout, publishers brown wrappers (2" closed tear repaired in bottom front wrapper.) Detached from covers. Tiny ex-lib mark & label inside back cover. Overall very good. Libraries Australia cites only 1 copy in Australia (ID 66389116) at LaTrobe University (reference available on request).