334 LEGUMINOS.E PRODUCING TANNING MATTERS AND DYES 



however, provided sowing is carried out at the commence- 

 ment of the rains, otherwise, during dry spells, the seed, 

 which is already swollen up by the water, will dry up 

 and die. 



They may be sown in beds and transplanted when the 

 young plants are from 25 to 30 cm. high. 



Exploitation of the trees may be begun when they are 

 seven or eight years old, though their full development is 

 only reached at the age of ten ; at this period the yield is 

 at its maximum. 



In Australia stripping is carried out from September to 

 December, but in Natal it is done at any time. Stripping 

 takes place whilst the plant is full of sap and still standing. 

 There are two methods of cutting employed : one consists 

 in cutting the tree at a point 4 ft. above the ground and 

 in removing the bark in ribbons down to the ground; the 

 other in making an incision at the base and removing the 

 bark in strips as far as the lowest branches. 



These strips are dried in the sun, or even by artificial 

 means, in order to obviate all dampness, the occurrence of 

 which would change the colour of the strips and cause them 

 to be attacked by mould. 



The strips are cut into pieces 2 in. long by i in. ^^■ide 

 and packed in sacks. 



After the trees have been stripped they are felled and 

 used for fuel or other purposes ; it has even been thought 

 of converting them into paper pulp. 



After this operation the plantation is abandoned and left 

 to grow up again of its own ^lCCord ; it then onlv needs 

 clearing to prevent the trees from becoming too crowded. 

 In some countries the cost of clearing is estimated to be 

 as expensive as starting another plantation on a new piece 

 of land. 



The production of a tree varies according to the number 

 of trees per hectare. The farther apart the trees the greater 

 their development and the greater their production. The 



