in Extra-Tropical Countries. 7 



much used for boat-building and for building purposes generally; 

 also suitable for cabinet-work. Species of Metrosideros, some 

 ascending to 8,000 feet, one overtopping all other trees, furnish a 

 large share of hard, tough and very durable timber in the Hawaian 

 islands. Their wood varies from a light red to a purplish hue. 

 (Hon. Judge McCully.) 



Acacia leiophylla, Bentham.* (A. saligna, Bentham not Wendland.) 



South- Western Australia, where it is the principal tree chosen for 

 tanners' bark. It is a wide-spreading small tree, fit for avenues ; 

 emitting suckers. The weeping habit fits it particularly also for 

 cemeteries. The bark contains nearly 30 per cent, of mimosa-tannin, 

 and is extensively used by tanners in West-Australia. Perfectly 

 dried leaves yield from 7 to 8 per cent, mimosa-tannic acid, giving a 

 lead-precipitate of a light yellow color; the leaves contain also a 

 considerable quantity of sulphate of lime. The London price of fair 

 West- Australian gum arabic from this species was from 46s. to 49s. 

 per cwt. in 1879. The tree has proved in Algeria to resist the sirocco 

 better than most species (Dr. Bonand). A. cyanophylla (Lindley) is 

 a closely allied species, serving the same purposes. 



Acacia longifolia, Willdenow. 



South-Eastern Australia. This tree is introduced into this list, 

 inasmuch as the very bushy variety known as A. Sophoras (R. Brown) 

 renders most important service in subduing loose coast-sand, the lower 

 branches striking root into the soil ; it should therefore be disseminated 

 on extensively bare sand- shores in regions, where no severe frosts 

 occur. The bark of A. longifolia is only half as good as that of 

 A. decurrens for tanning, and used chiefly for sheep-skins. The tree 

 is of quick growth 20 to 30 feet in o to 6 years (Hartmann). 



Acacia macrantha, Bentham. 



From Mexico to Argentina, also in the Galapagos-Group. This 

 tree, usually small, provides the " Cuji-pods " for tanning (Sim- 

 monds). 



Acacia Melanoxylon, R. Brown.* 



South-Eastern Australia. Generally known as Blackwood-tree, 

 passing also under the inappropriate name of Lightwood-tree. In 

 irrigated glens of deep soil the tree will attain a height of 80 feet, 

 with a stem several feet in diameter. The wood is most valuable for 

 furniture, railroad-cars and carriages, boat-building (stem and stern- 

 post, ribs, rudder), for tool-handles, crutches, some portions of the 

 work of organ-builders, casks, billiard-tables, pianofortes (for sound- 

 boards and actions) and numerous other purposes. The fine-grained 

 wood is cut into veneers; it takes a fine polish, and is considered 

 almost equal to walnut. The best wood in Victoria for bending under 

 steam; it does not warp and twist. Local experiments gave the 

 strength in transverse strain of Blackwood equal to Eucalyptus- 

 wood of middling strength, approaching that of the American White 



