308 AUSTRALIAN NATIVE PLANTS. 
artificially dried. In commercial bark the percentage is some- 
what less, according to the state of its dryness—it retains about 10 
per cent. of moisture. 13lb. of Black Wattle Bark gives 1lb. of 
leather, whereas slbs. of English oak bark are requisite for the 
same results; but the tanning principle of both is not absolutely 
identical. Melbourne tanners consider a ton of Black Wattle Bark 
sufficient to tan 25 to 30 hides; it is best adapted for sole leather, 
and other so-called heavy goods. The leather is fully as durable 
as that tanned with oak bark, and nearly as good in colour. Bark 
carefully stored for a season improves in tanning power 10 to 15 
per cent. From experiments made it appears that no appreciable 
difference exists in the percentage of tannin in Wattle Barks, 
whether obtained in the dry or in the wet season. As far back as 
1823 a fluid extract of Wattle Bark was shipped to London, 
fetching then the extraordinary price of £50 per ton, one ton of 
bark yielding 4cwt. of extract of tar consistence (Simmonds), thus 
saving much freight and cartage. The cultivation of the Black 
Wattle is extremely easy, being effected by sowing, either broadcast 
or inrows. Seeds can be obtained in Sydney or Melbourne, at 
ss. per lb., which quantity contains from 30,000 to 50,000 seeds; 
they are known to retain their vitality for several years. Seeds 
should be soaked in warm water before sowing. Any bare, barren, 
unutilised place might be most remuneratively sown with this 
Wattle ; the return would be in from fivetoten years. Full-grown 
trees, which supply also the best quality, yield as much as rewt. of 
bark. Mr. Dickinson states that he has seen t1ocwt. of bark 
obtained from a single tree of gigantic dimensions at Southport, 
Queensland. A quarter of a ton of bark was obtained from one 
tree at Tambo, Queensland, without stripping all the limbs. The 
height of this tree was sixty feet, and the stem two feet in diameter 
The rate of growth is about one inch in diameter of stem annually. 
It is content with the poorest and driest, or sandy soils, although 
in more fertile ground its growth is more rapid. (Mueller, Select 
Extra-tropical Plants.) 
Eastern South Australia, through Victoria and New South 
Wales to Southern Queensland. The only form of this species 
in Tasmania. 
