432 



Journal of Agriculture. [8 July, 1907. 



WATTLE GROWING. 



A. TatJiam, Gisborne. 



Wherever the black wattle {Acacia decurrens) grows naturally in Vic- 

 toria, it is possible to cultivate it. On most properties there is always an 

 acre or two of land that fox some reason or other vields no return, and 

 there is no reason why the\- should not be made to do so through wattles. 



Cultivation. 



It would be difficult to find a soil in Victoria that would not grow this 

 tree, provided moisture was sufficient. But if any can be specially selected 

 perhaps the granite country would gain first place. Those soils that are 

 rich in humus are most favored, and often in granite localities, where the 

 soil surface is made fairly free by the disintegration of the rocks, a dense 

 vegetation of low-growing species, especially bracken fern, is found, caus- 

 ing an annual deposit of decaying vegetable matter. The wattle in its 

 young state is tolerant of shade, and in fact thrives well in partial shade, 

 or under a high leaf canopy. But to be at its best as far as bark pro- 

 duction is concerned it should have no overhead shade, but plenty of under- 

 growth. Its natural locality is a valley, but where the rainfall is 30 

 inches and over it is found growing w"ell on ridges. 



The wattle seeds profusely once in three years. To collect the seeds, 

 the pods should be gathered just as they ripen, but before they open, as 

 they will do on a hot day, and so shed the seed. The pods can be laid 

 on sacks or rick cloth in the sun, where they get brittle or split ; place 

 all in a sack and beat it briskly with a stout stick, and the seed will 

 be threshed out. If the sack is held up, and gently bounced on the 

 ground it will be found that the seeds sink to the bottom and can easily 

 be collected. 



The area having been selected, the seed can be sown anv time in the 

 early autumn. The cheapest and easiest way to do this is to strive to 

 get a locality that has trees growing on it ; if bracken fern exists all the 

 better. Do not attempt tO' remove any rubbish in the shape of logs or 

 dead limbs, leave all alone — it is an excellent site for wattles. Before the 

 autumn rains, throw the seed broadcast over the area ; it requires no pre- 

 vious preparation, if plentv of dry vegetation is present. 



Half-a-pound of seed is ample for an acre, in fact a quarter of a 

 pound will suffice, but is difficult to sow, except it is mixed with a bucket 

 of s<and or earth. On a favorable day, and with due regard for yourself 

 and your neighbours, set fire to the block. The heat of the fire will assist 

 germination, and the resulting ashes are sufficient cover for the seeds ; 

 injurious insects are destroyed, and the vegetation is burnt sufficiently to 

 allow the young wattles to eet a fair start in life, before they have to 

 struggle through the quick growth of grass, &c. , which will follow in the 

 . spring. In two years, the young wattles will be 2 to 3 feet high and 

 beyond all interference from undergrowth. 



So far the expense has been very slight. But as stock will greedily 

 devour wattles the plantation must be fenced until such time as the voung 

 trees are too high for them, which ought to be in their fourth vear. The 

 style of fence need only be temporarv and cheap, but effective. 



If this style of plantation cannot be arranged, then more expensive 

 methods must be resorted to. The next cheapest is to run disc culti\ators 



