8 Select Plants for Industrial Culture 



Oak, and surpassing that of the Kauri. The bark contains about 20 

 per cent, mimosa-tannin. The tree has proved, with A. decurrens 

 and A. dealbata, hardy in the Isle of Arran (Rev. D. Landsborough). 



Acacia microbotrya, Bentham. 



South- Western Australia. " The Badjong." A comparatively tall 

 species, the stem attaining a diameter of 1 to 1^ feet. It prefers 

 river-valleys, and lines brooks naturally. According to Mr. Geo. 

 Whitfield, a single tree may yield 50 Ibs. of gum in a season. The 

 aborigines store the gum in hollow trees for winter use ; it is of 

 a pleasant, sweetish taste. 



Acacia moniliformis, Grisebach. 



Argentina. The " Tusca." The young pods are used for feeding 

 horses and cattle (Dr. Lorentz), like those of Acacia Cavenia in 

 South- Western America. 



Acacia pendula, Cunningham. 



New South Wales and Queensland, generally in marshy tracts 

 of the interior. The " Weeping Myall." Reaching 35 feet in height. 

 Wood violet-scented, hard, close-grained, beautifully marked ; used by 

 cabinet-makers and turners, in high repute for tobacco-pipes (W. 

 Hill). The tree is desirable for cemeteries. 



Acacia penninervis, Sieber. 



Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. A small tree, so 

 hardy as to occupy sub-alpine localities. The bark contains about 18 

 per cent, of tannin. 



Acacia pycnantha, Bentham.* 



Victoria and South- Australia. The "Golden Wattle " of the 

 colonists. This tree, which attains a maximum height of about 30 

 feet, is second only to A. decurrens in importance for its yield of 

 tanners' bark ; the quality of the latter is even sometimes superior to 

 that of the Black Wattle, but the yield is less, as the tree is smaller 

 and the bark thinner. It is a tree of rapid growth, content with 

 almost any soil, but is generally found in poor sandy ground, particu- 

 larly near the sea-coast, where A. decurrens would not succeed, and 

 thus also important for binding rolling sand. Experiments instituted 

 by me have proved the absolutely dried bark to contain about 30 

 per cent tanning principle, full-grown sound trees supplying the best 

 quality. The aqueous infusion of the bark can be reduced by boil- 

 ing to a dry extract, which in medicinal and other respects is equal to 

 the best Indian catechu, as derived from Acacia Catechu and A. 

 Suma. It yields nearly 30 per cent., about half of which or more is 

 mimosa-tannic acid. This catechu is also of great use for preserving 

 against decay articles subject to exposure in water, such as ropes, 

 nets and fishing-lines. The fresh leaves yield 6 per cent, and dry 

 leaves 15 to 16 per cent, of mimosa -tannin. While, according to 

 Mr. Simmoiads, the import of the bark of oaks and hemlock-spruce 



