File:The Cuba review (1907-1931) (20182141034).jpg

Title: The Cuba review
Identifier: cubareview15muns (find matches)
Year: 1907-1931 (1900s)
Authors: Munson Steamship Line
Subjects: Cuba -- Periodicals
Publisher: New York : Munson Steamship Line
Contributing Library: New York Botanical Garden, LuEsther T. Mertz Library
Digitizing Sponsor: The LuEsther T Mertz Library, the New York Botanical Garden

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THE CUBA REVIEW 23
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Australian Pines Planted for Syiade and Ornament. The name oak is pretty generally applied to this tree, because of the fancied resemblance in the color and broad pith rays of the wood to that of true oak. In the English trade the wood is known as Botanj' oak, because the original shipments of the wood of certain species of Casuarina came from points on Botany Bay in Australia. The name becfwood is more appli- cable, and is very generally used, because the heartwood resembles dried beef in color. The wood is very hard and durable, and for this reason is often called ironwood, which name it shares with a number of entirely difTerent trees from, all parts of the world. The use of this name will give rise to endless confusion am^ong those who are not familiar with the tree, and if it is 10 be more generally introduced, in tropical America the name ironwood should be qualified by a word such as Polynesia or Malay, in order to distinguish it from other so-called ironwoods. The Australian pine is probably native to southern Asia and Malay Archipelago, but is now found all over the tropics and subtropics both cultivated and wild. The tree is very deco- rative and tropical in appearance. The very nam.e Casuarina sounds tropical and foreign, but it has been found, to be thoroughly hardy in Southern Florida, ^^ est Indies, and in m.any parts of California, where it is no longer considered as a foreign species, but as a natuarlized tree of great value. Dr. John Gifford, Cocoanut Grove, Florida, says: "The tree is not a new introduction into Florida. A few trees have been planted here and there for many years, but only recently have they been planted by the thousands for wind breaks, ornamental purposes, and, incidentally, for timber. This tree may be planted close and clipped to form a very ))retty .and effective hedge." In its native habitat the Australian ))ine is long-lived and attains a n-aximi.m. height of 150 feet and a diameter of 2 or 3 feet. It is one of the fastest if not the fastest-grow ing hard- wood tree in existence. A number of these trees in Florida and Cuba are knoAvn to have grown 10 feet a year for the first 3 years. It easily outgrows any of the species of Eucalyptus which have been so widely advertised. It grows naturally straight, even in situations where it is exposed to constant winds. This fact can be attributed to the character of the foliage which consists of very small oppressed, scale-like appendages, crowded around thin and very flexible branchlets which allow the wind to pass through the crown. Moreover, the wood of the young branches is very flexible and the entire tree or crown yields to the strong \\ inds \nth.out l)reak- ing. Trees with thick foliage would probably be uprooted. The thin branches of the Australian pine look, from a distance, like pine needles, and the many-celled woody fruit resembles certain

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