15 



The wattle grows readily in almost any soil, and it requires so 

 little attention as to make its general cultivation extremely profit- 

 able. Bush fires have in past years proved extremely destructive 

 to the wattles, while whole districts have been periodically ravaged 

 by swarms of young beetles and the blighting coccus disease. As 

 previously set forth, there is reason to believe that the soil in many 

 parts of the country contains an immense number of seeds of the 

 wattle, which are quickened into life by the germinating influence 

 of bush fires; but, owing to the great destruction of young trees, 

 this supply of seed is not renewed, consequently the time is 

 approaching when it will be completely exhausted, unless precau- 

 tionary measures are effected. 



The wood of the wattle is of considerable value for industrial 

 purposes it can be readily utilised for cask staves, for axle spokes, 

 for axe and pick handles, and many other articles requiring a tough 

 durable grain. When dried, it forms the best firewood known for 

 culinary and all domestic purposes, also for ovens and furnaces. 

 It emits a clearer and greater heat than other firewood, and it may 

 be anticipated that as facilities for transit to the towns and cities 

 increase, that it will be brought into more requisition than at 

 present. The wattles may also be utilised for fencing, the trunks 

 making top rails of the best description. The commercial uses of 

 the wattle are multifarious, as, in addition to the value of the bark 

 and the wood, a good profit may be derived from the sale of the 

 gum which exudes from the trees. According to the latest advices, 

 the price of Australian gum had risen very considerably in the 

 English and Continental markets, an increase of over 30 per cent, 

 having taken place in the prices between January and March of 

 the present year, clearly proving that a better demand is setting 

 in for the article. Under such a system of wattle cultivation as 

 the Board desire to see established, the collection of gum could be 

 made an easy and remunerative employment, more especially when 

 the trees are punctured for the purpose of increasing the yield. 



With the example of New South Wales and other colonies 

 before them, the Board could not ignore the danger to be appre- 

 hended from a total cessation of the supply. A few years since 

 New South Wales possessed an abundant supply of wattles, but 

 now her tanneries are kept open almost entirely by means of the 

 bark grown in Victoria and Tasmania. 



Although other Victorian barks, such as the honeysuckle, the 

 ironbark, and lightwood, severally yield a certain percentage of 

 tannin, yet they can never replace the wattle, even if they were not 

 also liable to exhaustion. 



Most of the tanners who were examined on the point stated 

 that, in their opinion, bark possessed the maximum of tan strength 

 when stripped during the last four months of the year, that being 



