Till-; r.i.ACK w A iTLic ixnusTKN. 2S1 



dovcU^pnienls have taken place, and through whom, and in what 

 lines research and de\elopnient is still in progress or is wanted. 



In 1905 every wattle-grower was a wattle expert; each one's 

 methods differed in some respects from that of his neighbour, 

 and each claimed to have the best possible method, and that he 

 knew his subject, and had nothing further to learn. 



To-day. most wattle growers, and especially those who know 

 most, admit that they have learned more since then than all they 

 l-;ncw before, and that they are still learning daily, and have 

 nuich to learn. 



In 1905 and onward, while the industry was developing 

 enormously, large areas were planted on second-rate or third- 

 rate wattle land, and have since proved that though such land 

 can carry a crop of wattles, and can even do so with profit, the 

 risks on such land are far greater, the need for first-class manage- 

 ment is mtich more pronotinced, and, in any case, the profit is 

 much less than wdien first quality land only is u.sed. 



There used to be an optimistic idea prevalent that because 

 certain measured areas and crops had yielded four tons of bark 

 ].er acre in six years, therefore every acre of wattle land would 

 do so ; to-day it is known that though under exceptional circum- 

 stances some crops may be even much better than that, there 

 are more acres in Natal carrying under three tons than over four 

 tons, at that age. 



Thece were few at that time who thought of a longer rota- 

 tion than six or seven years ; to-day, periods up to twice that 

 length are receiving serious consideration, and being worked 

 toward by the most advanced growers. 



.\.t that time, final espacement 6ft. x 6ft. was considered 

 the standard, except in very favourable spots ; to-day, most of 

 the better plantations are on much wider espacement from the 

 start, especially where longer rotation is contemplated. 



It used to be the practice to thin only after the thinnings 



-had value, say at four or five years' age; to-day, the practice is 



growing of thinning out all the weak and dominated trees as 



soon as they show that condition, say at two years' age. even 



if it costs something to do that, and brings nothing in return. 



There used to be little endeavour to clean a weedy planta- 

 tion, the idea being that the trees would find their way through 

 and eventually dominate ; to-day it is recognised that, besides 

 other disadvantages, the time lost thereby meant the loss of at 

 least one season on each crop, or the loss of one full crop every 

 50 years, and that mechanical cultivation pays its way well. 



There used to be a firm conviction that the various insect, 

 fungoid and bacterial pests were part of Divine Provfdence and 

 unavoidable, and therefore had to be endured ; to-day the wattle 

 farmer is keen on the application of scientific research into the 

 ]jossibility of the control of his pests. 



In 1905 the production of bagged bark was the limit of the 

 farmer's ambition, and was beyond the scope of half the farmers, 

 who were satisfied to sell as stick-bark ; to-day we see compressed 



