ACACIA 



ARABICA 



G-um 



Fodder. 



Fuel. 



Bark. 



Markets. 



Soil. 



Successful 

 Cultivation. 



Longicorn 

 Beetles. 



Gum. 



Held. 



Tapping. 



Physical 

 Features. 



Atmospheric 

 Influences. 



Colour. 



THE INDIAN GUM ARABIC TREE 



as Rs. 24, and the gross proceeds for grazing and fuel as Us. 251, thus leaving 

 a net profit of Rs. 227. Dr. Leather (Agri. Ledg., 1896, No. 18, 158) shows the 

 working expenses for an acre of land in Agra under babul as Rs. 146 and the 

 gross receipts Rs. 440, so that the net profit in 10 years came to Rs. 294. But 

 in neither of these cases does allowance appear to have been made for the sale of 

 bark, the plantations having been undertaken simply for fuel purposes. In 

 conclusion it may be observed that on good soil the tree is much less gregarious, 

 is allowed to grow to a fairly large size, and is accordingly valued more as a 

 timber tree than as a source of fuel. A tree is considered full-grown in from 

 20 to 40 years, and may then fetch from Rs. 40 to Rs. 100 according to the size of 

 the timber afforded. 



The variety (mentioned above) as kaulia or vedi is that usually grown in 

 Berar and Western India, when fuel only is desired. The telia or godi is ordinarily 

 allowed to run to timber. Success in cultivation would seem to depend upon 

 several circumstances, such as the scarcity and consequent high price of fuel, 

 a good market for the bark, the existence of suitable land at low rents, etc., etc. 

 But it must never be forgotten that, to be successful, production of babul fuel 

 and babul bark must be in close proximity to the markets, since neither product 

 could bear heavy railway freights. 



Soil. According to most observers the babul prefers a sandy light loam or 

 black cotton soil to heavy clay, but appears to be somewhat indifferent to the 

 presence of a fairly large percentage of reh or shor (efflorescent salts see 

 Alkalis, pp. 516). But it does not succeed either on rocky and hilly ground or on 

 low-lying and submerged tracts, hence plantations to be made profitable must be on 

 fairly good soils. The yield and quality of the gum, of the tanning bark and of 

 the timber its three chief products greatly depend on the condition of the plant. 

 Enemies. The life of the tree is generally said to be about 20 to 30 years ; 

 at all events after that age it seems to become a ready victim to the ravages of 

 various pests, among which the grubs of one or two longicorn beetles may bo 

 specially mentioned. Mr. Stebbing (Injurious Insects of Forest Trees, 67, 69) 

 describes these as Catlostefna, H pin at or and Fac-hytliMHim Ituloserlcetifi. Its 

 greatest enemy, however (especially during the first 3 or 6 years of its existence), 

 is probably the goat. 



The commercial products and utilisations of babul may be dealt with under 

 the following headings : 



1. The Gum. This exudes in March, April and May, according to 

 the vast majority of reports, but in connection with Amritsar it is said 

 to ooze from the trees in the months of October, November and December. 

 A tree yields a maximum of about 2 Ib. a year, but the average might be 

 more safely put at a few ounces. In certain localities little or no gum 

 is given by the trees, and seasonal variations in yield are also well known 

 and are said to be dependent on abnormal climatic conditions. Tapping 

 the trees is generally believed to accelerate the flow, but this is not often 

 practised, and may be detected by the presence of long stalactiform masses. 

 The gum occurs in the form of irregular and broken tears agglutinated, 

 each tear being half an inch in size and of a pale straw-colour to red, 

 brown or almost black, according to the age of the tree. The quantity 

 yielded varies directly, but the lightness of colour and quality, inversely 

 to the age of the tree. Such, at least, is the general opinion, although 

 the Amritsar report states that old trees do not yield any gum at 

 all. Long exposure to atmospheric influences, more especially to damp 

 and rain, darkens the colour and lowers the value of the gum, 

 besides making it astringent owing to the quantity of tannin (from the 

 bark, doubtless) with which it becomes charged. [Cf. Vilbouchevitch, 

 Journ. d'Agri. Trop., 1901, i., 49.] Observers have also noted 

 that gum exuding from gnarled stems or diseased portions is dark ; 

 moreover, that it varies in colour and becomes brittle by exposure 

 to the sun or artificial heat. [Cf. Goetze in Pharm. Zeit., 18, 119 ; Journ. 

 Chem. Indust., 1903, xxii., 429.] The purer and paler-coloured gums 



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