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come within Sir George Bowen's knowledge-
that the present efficient state
of
the
department has not been attained without
the exertion
of a good deal of pressure on
Sir Joseph Hooker's part.
With regard therefore to the proposed
Eucalyptus planting Sir Joseph Hooker wishes
me to remark that it would be
very
undesirable
to relax the enterprise which has been
steadily pushed
for some years of clothing
the denuded hills of the island with Pinus sinensis
a useful local tree the
management of which is fully understood:
Sir Joseph Hooker has so often expressed
his opinion that the merit of Eucalyptus
for
for planting purposes is much overrated that it is scarcely necessary to
more than
remind you of the disappointment which
has attended attempts at its cultivation
in parts of
West Africa, Cyprus and
many
parts of India. It appears too from paragraph 27
of
Mr. Ford's report that experimental planting
with several kinds has already failed except
as a nurse tree where the pine has been used
without therefore venturing to question the
propriety of
the plans which Sir George Bowen
has ordered to be carried out in the matter.
Sir Joseph Hooker would merely suggest that
it might be well to
before
fully
feel
the way gradually
extending the large plantations
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