FODDER TREES 75 



long or more, and contains about twenty seeds, each one being 

 enclosed in a densely hairy covering, from which, however, 

 it is easily separated. In some seasons tons of seeds are pro- 

 duced, and supply a part of the food of certain birds, while 

 at one tune they were largely eaten by the aborigines. It is 

 many years since I, when in the interior, first roasted 

 Kurrajong seeds, in an old frying-pan over a bright 

 charcoal fire, pounded them, when sufficiently roasted, 

 into fine particles, and made an infusion of the grounds 

 in boiling water in a similar way to coffee, and thus obtained a 

 capital beverage. With the addition of sugar and milk in 

 moderate quantities the infusion becomes more palatable. 

 Several years ago I forwarded some Kurrajong seeds to Mr. 

 W. M. Hamlet, for analysis, and shortly afterwards he addressed 

 to me the following communication : ' ' The seeds you sent 

 me contain 1.8 per cent, of the alkaloid caffeine, and the 

 berries, when roasted properly, are very much like coffee, 

 indeed my assistant says he would prefer them to coffee." 

 The roots of the young Kurrajong trees, once largely used by 

 the aborigines as an article of food, resemble turnips in con- 

 sistency, but are sweeter to the taste. From the inner bark 

 of the tree an excellent fibre is obtained by the blacks inland, 

 and made into very strong twine which they manufacture 

 into nets for capturing game and fish, bags, etc. The Kurra- 

 jong is well worth strictly conserving where it is already grow- 

 ing and extensively planting on the droughty inlands to 

 provide good feed in adverse seasons and shelter for stock. 



This tree is easily raised from seed, and the seedlings 

 bear transplanting well. The seeds may be sown in situ with 

 every chance of success, provided the seedlings are protected 

 against herbivora until they are large enough to take care of 

 themselves. If the trees are grown hi belts or groups they 

 will be more easily managed. 



