434 Journal of Agrkulfure. [8 July, 1907. 



vield. It is possible to strip at 4 years, but the return is a poor one 

 compared to what would result if the tree was left another couple of 

 seasons. 



There is a time when the marketable bark reaches its maximum thick- 

 ness ; this is probably between 8 and 10 years in a normally grown tree, it 

 may be eyen a little later. After this stage has been reached, the green 

 bark will never get thicker, any increase in thickness will only be due to 

 the accumulation of dead bark that adheres tO' the stem and covers the 

 live bark, or marketable commodity. Now it stands to reason a purchaser 

 is not going to buy dead bark, and to market such rubbish would be fo'lly. 

 Therefore as soon as the bark of a tree shows signs of external cracking 

 and dying, no time should be lost in stripping it, for it will never improve, 

 but only recede in value. 



There are many different ways of stripping hark, but whatever method 

 is adopted, the object in view should not be most bark with least trouble 

 and time, but most bark and best sample. If a tree is carefully worked, 

 it is surprising what a lot of good quality material it yields. But the 

 best hark is often ruined by carelessness. Even inferior bark can be 

 made to appear good, with a little care. It should be cut to one length, 

 not doubled over in the bundles, because the bent bark takes up more 

 room, is very prone tO' spring and loosen the ties, and looks slovenly. After 

 the bark is stripped, great care must be taken to prevent it getting wet or 

 a great loss of tannin will result. Freshly peeled hark suffers more in 

 this way than dry bark. But when dry bark gets damp, especially when 

 bundled, it is liable to be attacked bv mildew. This is often hard to 

 detect till perhaps great injury is caused ; mildewed bark is practically 

 valueless. Therefore do not bundle any but dry bark, and if stored, be 

 careful it gets plenty of air, but no damp. Above all keep the bark clean, 

 good appearance goes a long way towards a good price. 



Returns. 



It would be difificult to state here what the probable cost per acre, or of 

 marketing per ton, might be. Some acres would require little outlav until 

 stripping, others might be a long way from a market. But if the 

 probable returns can be arrived at, then the question simplifies itself to 

 those who wish to give it a trial. From calculations based on some years' 

 stripping, it has been found that 30 trees supposed to be between 6 and 

 8 years old produced a ton of dry bark. The trees w^ere naturally grown, 

 in bush country. Therefore an acre of 150 trees 8 years old and fairlv 

 grown ought to produce five tons. Now taking the average price of bark 

 in Melbourne at ^6 per ton, an acre would yield ^30 in 8 years. Allow- 

 ing only two tons to the acre the return of -fii would be satisfactory, 

 as the land in its natural state as a grazing area would only be worth about 

 2S. per acre per annum. It cannot be denied that £^2^0 per acre at the 

 end of 8 years, even though it be reduced by half to cover cost of all 

 works connected with the plantation, is better than -[6s. per acre as a 

 grazing area. 



There are many blocks of suitable land Iving idle in Victoria to-day 

 that could be made to return a good income from this source, with abso- 

 lutely no more cost than sowing the seed and har\-esting the bark. South 

 Africa is planting large areas of wattle. Why is it neglected in the 

 country of its oritrin ? 



