the season when the sap is most active. Independent of the fact 

 that a renewal of the supply of tannin is thereby effected, the fact 

 that the bark is stripped during the summer months and dried 

 under ordinary summer temperature gives it a greater advantage 

 than the bark stripped and dried during the wet months of winter. 

 The bark being exposed to damp and moisture loses a proportion 

 of its strength, the process of drying being longer facilitates the 

 change of tannic acid into gallic acid, or acids of a similar character, 

 substances of no service for tanning. 



The character of the soil appears to affect, to some extent, the 

 quality of bark, this being clearly proved by the members of the 

 Board during their inspection of the North Gippsland district. A 

 sample of bark was obtained from the limestone country beyond 

 the Buchan River, and subjected to careful analysis. This analysis 

 proved that the bark from trees growing on a limestone formation 

 was greatly inferior in tannin to that of bark obtained from any 

 other district in the colony, although the climate was in every way 

 calculated to produce better results. Only a short distance away, 

 other bark was obtained and subjected to the same test, when the 

 difference was shown to be 13 per cent. From bark growing 

 within five miles of the Buchan River 42 per cent, of tan material 

 was obtained, while the bark taken from the limestone formation on 

 both sides of that stream only yielded 29 per cent.; continuing this 

 examination still further, the Board found that bark obtained from 

 the Goulburn and Western districts were about equal in point of 

 tanning strength both being a little inferior to the best bark 

 obtained from Gippsland. The bark in each instance subjected to 

 analysis was of the black or "feather" leaf species. The bark of 

 the golden or broad-leaf wattle was also tested, and the result 

 proved that its strength exceeded all the other barks by fully 5 

 per cent. From actual experience, the tanners are satisfied that 

 there is considerable variation in the strength of bark due to the 

 conditions of soil and climate as well as to the age and season at 

 which the trees are stripped. The Board, while satisfying them- 

 selves on this point, also found that the size of the trees varied 

 considerably in many districts, soil and position evidently effecting 

 the difference. One of the largest black wattles met with by the 

 Board in the Western district gave a mean diameter of 24 inches, 

 its age being ascertained at 18 years. This may be taken as the 

 maximum size attained by this species ; and, although even larger 

 trees may be occasionally met with, the wattle is at its prime when 

 about 10 years old, and possessing a trunk of 9 or 10 inches in 

 diameter. After that the trees lose their healthy, vigorous habit, 

 and are usually attacked by disease or wood insects. In every 

 district visited by the Board the most favorable specimens were 

 selected for experimental purposes, and the following statement, 



