prized for ornamental purposes : from twenty to thirty species are 

 enumerated in the catalogues of tlie principal nurseries. 



The many valuable properties of the species mentioned in the 

 footnote, combined with rapidity of growth, would warrant cultiva- 

 tion on an extensive scale, Avhich if judiciously conducted would be 

 highly advantageous to the State and yield a handsome return upon 

 the capital invested. Mueller says that the wood of A. decurrens, 

 popularly known as the " Black Wattle or Silver Wattle," can be 

 used for staves, but its chief use would be to aiford the first shelter, 

 in treeless localities, for raising forests. Its bark rich in tannin, 

 and its gum not dissimilar to Gum Arabic, render this tree also 

 .important. 



A. HOMALOPHYLLA, has a " dark brown wood, is much sought for 

 turner's work on account of its solidity and fragrance ; perhaps its 

 most extensive use is in the manufacture of tobacco pipes." 



A. MELANOXYLON " is most valuable for furniture, railway car- 

 riages, boat building, casks, billiard tables, pianofortes (for sound- 

 boards and actions) and numerous other purposes. The fine-grained 

 wood is cut into veneers. It takes a fine polish and is considered 

 equal to the best walnut." Under favorable circumstances it 

 attains " a hight of 80 feet with a stem several feet in diameter." 

 This species requires a deeper and moister soil than A. decurrens 

 and A. lophantha, which are especially recommended for their ability 

 to I'esist drought, and therefore particularly applicable to treeless 

 and sterile areas in the southern part of California, and the adjoin- 

 ing country, where the temperature does not decline below 10 

 degrees. 



The peculiar yellow displayed in the China silks and other arti 

 cles, is obtained from the yellow flowers of a species of Acacia, 

 and is of an exceeding permanent character. 



The Acacias are easily propagated from seed, as I have (with 

 some species) practically tested ; and it is not unlikely that the 

 flowers of most of the species, which are yellow, might be equally 

 as valuable for the dyer, as the variety cultivated or used by the 

 Chinese. 



Of the Eucalypti, E. globulus is very common in California, and 

 easily cultivated ; it is the Blue Gum of Victoria and Tasmania. 

 " This tree is of extremely rapid growth and attains a height of 400 



