WATTLE BARK. 509 
stone formation on both sides of the stream only yielded 29 per cent. 
Continuing the examination still further, the board found that the 
samples of bark obtained from the Goulburn and Western districts were 
about equal in point of tanning strength, both being a little inferior to 
the best bark obtained from Gippsland. The bark in each instance 
subjected to analysis was of the black or “ feather” leaf species. The 
bark of the golden leaf or broad leaf wattle was also tested, and the 
result proved that its strength exceeded all the other barks by fully 5 
per cent. 
The size of the trees varied considerably in many districts, soil and 
position evidently effecting the difference. One of the largest black wat 
tles met with in the western district gave a mean diameter of 24 inches, 
its age being ascertained to be eighteen years. This may be taken 
as the maximum size attained by this species; and, although even 
larger trees may be occasionally met with, the wattle is at its prime 
when about ten years old, and possessing a trunk 9 or 10 inches in 
diameter. After that the trees lose their healthy, vigorous habit, and 
are usually attacked by disease and wood insects. 
In every district visited the most favorable specimens were selected 
for experimental purposes, and the following statement, which shows the 
average size of wattles at the ages mentioned, may be applied to the 
two different species recommended for cultivation throughout the 
colony : 
| Diameter 
Species. Locality. Years. | 3 feet from 
ground. 
Black. .-..| Glenisla to Dunkeld (western district) ....-..-.------.---------------- | 18 | 20 inches. 
10; Bees Parish of Bairnsdale (North Gippsland)........-..--------------------| 20 | 16 inches. 
Gr 2: FUmliaraok to Vo k(Gonlbnen GiIstrict) =~ —-s-<--- <-s2uc- seo eer cc ese ease 6 | 7T inches. 
eee Buchan River (North Gippsland, limestone form).-..-...-...--..---.----- | 6 | 5 inches. 
Dole: South Gippsland, heavy, rank, forest lands.........--..-----.---------- 25 | 17 inches. 
Golden ..| Wallington, Portarlington, and Queenscliff. RAED ote Rene Sea eRe RS | 9} 8 inches. 
MO. acs perbas anik Cantinaaat 22262255. 8coe See ee (Ee sound toa lc coe 10 | 74 inches. 
The following table shows the quantity of tan extractive in 100 parts 
of bark obtained from the districts mentioned: 
ee 
Percentage 
Species. Where from. of tan ex- 
traction. 
Acacia pycnantha, golden or broad leaf...... Portarlington, Wallington, and Queenscliff. - 45 
Acacia decurrens, black or feather leaf ..... North Gippsland aoe SER AA ee nt oe ee 40 
Leo Esa eee ae ee Sn io Wando, Dale, and Victoria Valley, western 34 
: district. 
10:7 5-2 ee Se eee Seema Goulburn WV alloy) ss 2=2--<2os52sa53s2 552, 34 
LO ah GARE EA SR: AS as Seo en ae Buchan River, North Gippsland, limestone 29 
formation. 
ae percentage represents the extractive matter useful to tanners 
only 
Most of the tanners who were examined on the point stated that, in 
their opinion, bark possessed the maximum of tan strength when stripped 
during the last four months of the year, that being the season when the 
sap is : most active. Independent of the fact that : a renewal of the sup- 
ply of tannin is thereby affected, the fact that the bark is stripped dur- 
ing the summer months and dried under ordinary summer temperature 
