20140516 Red Ironbark Seeds in planter - Eucalyptus sideroxylon
The Central Pacific Railroad took an avid interest in the eucalyptus. The railroad constantly needed materials for its lines primarily for ties, poles, posts, and firewood. The eucalyptus conceivably could produce these necessary supplies according to contemporary information. The railroad also wanted to attract settlers to buy railroad land adjacent to the tracks. The plan was to beautify the barren landscape with fast-growing eucalyptus as an enticement.
In 1877, Assistant Chief Engineer for the Central Pacific Railroad, J.D. Scupham, bought 40,000 eucalyptus seedlings, mostly blue gum, from nurseries in Oakland and Hayward. The railroad planted the seedlings in the San Joaquin Valley and in some instances near wells as an attraction to settlers. The next year, 250,000 seedlings were bought from Locke of Pasadena and 300,000 from George Baxter of Hayward. In the two year planting program, the railroad planted about one million trees. The program was a bust though. Soon it was discovered that eucalyptus ties would crack and check if not seasoned properly. These ties could not hold a spike in place securely which was obviously of great importance to track stability. The eucalyptus wood also rotted away easily.78 Thus ended the first real experiment of eucalyptus for an industrial purpose. Decades later the Santa Fe Railroad would curiously repeat the exact same experience. Government agencies continued their support of eucalyptus through their informative literature and seed distribution programs. For example, the State Forestry Commission sold seeds at a very low price of the better eucalyptus species. The University of California had a program of offering free seed to interested growers.79 Experiment stations were also established by the government.
Santos, Robert L. "The Eucalyptus of California" California State University, Stanislaus. Internet.
Red Ironbark METRIC JANKA RATING = 13
Red Ironbark IMPERIAL JANKA RATING = 2922
20140516 Red Ironbark Seeds in planter - Eucalyptus sideroxylon
The Central Pacific Railroad took an avid interest in the eucalyptus. The railroad constantly needed materials for its lines primarily for ties, poles, posts, and firewood. The eucalyptus conceivably could produce these necessary supplies according to contemporary information. The railroad also wanted to attract settlers to buy railroad land adjacent to the tracks. The plan was to beautify the barren landscape with fast-growing eucalyptus as an enticement.
In 1877, Assistant Chief Engineer for the Central Pacific Railroad, J.D. Scupham, bought 40,000 eucalyptus seedlings, mostly blue gum, from nurseries in Oakland and Hayward. The railroad planted the seedlings in the San Joaquin Valley and in some instances near wells as an attraction to settlers. The next year, 250,000 seedlings were bought from Locke of Pasadena and 300,000 from George Baxter of Hayward. In the two year planting program, the railroad planted about one million trees. The program was a bust though. Soon it was discovered that eucalyptus ties would crack and check if not seasoned properly. These ties could not hold a spike in place securely which was obviously of great importance to track stability. The eucalyptus wood also rotted away easily.78 Thus ended the first real experiment of eucalyptus for an industrial purpose. Decades later the Santa Fe Railroad would curiously repeat the exact same experience. Government agencies continued their support of eucalyptus through their informative literature and seed distribution programs. For example, the State Forestry Commission sold seeds at a very low price of the better eucalyptus species. The University of California had a program of offering free seed to interested growers.79 Experiment stations were also established by the government.
Santos, Robert L. "The Eucalyptus of California" California State University, Stanislaus. Internet.
Red Ironbark METRIC JANKA RATING = 13
Red Ironbark IMPERIAL JANKA RATING = 2922