6 WATTLES AND WATTLE-BAEKS. 



any) grows on the slate formation on the Grafton-Dundee Road, but seems 

 to thrive on the granite country, or near the junction of granite and slate, 

 where the metamorphic rocks occur. The land where the porphyry and 

 altered slates are found in juxtaposition, seems to be the favourite locality 

 for the bush wattles." 



. PREPARATION OF THE LAND. 



In preparing the land, if it be virgin soil, unencumbered with scrub, and 

 of a light nature, breaking up of the surface, sowing the seeds, and harrow- 

 ing is all that is necessary. If the land be covered with scrub or other 

 vegetation these should be cut down, burnt, and the land prepared in the 

 usual way. 



Mr. A. L. Thrupp, of "Woodside, South Australia, is, in timbered country, 

 opposed to the felling of the timber (non-wattle), as he is of opinion that 

 the trees, if ringed, form, even in their dead state, a protection of no mean 

 value against frost and high winds for the young wattle plants. 



It must not be understood that any careless kind of cultivation will do 

 for wattles, although when once started they will thrive with scarcely any 

 attention, but, like other crops, the better the system of cultivation adopted 

 tlie better the yield, and therefore the greater the profit. 



Land should, if possible, be ploughed all over, and not merely have drills 

 run out. The increased expense of the former method will be found to be 

 many times recouped. It is usually sufficient to plough the land to a 

 depth of 4 or 5 inches 6 inches is better still, and may be considered the 

 standard depth. 



Mr. Alfred Cadell, who has devoted much attention to wattle cultivation, 

 and has induced others to do so, even manured a portion of ground for a 

 patch of wattles, and the increased growth which has resulted has given him 

 much satisfaction. Of course, whether manuring (and in what quantity) 

 will pay in a particular instance must largely depend on local considerations. 



(0.) MOISTURE. 



"Wattles like a moderate amount of moisture, say from 18 to 20 inches. 

 (E. Abbott.) Acacia decurrens will, however, stand considerably more. Mr. 

 J. E. Brown has grown wattles {Acacia pyenantha) successfully with 10 

 inches of rainfall, but ordinary cultivators will not usually succeed with less 

 than 16 to 20 inches per annum. 



On the other hand, it is not good for wattle trees to have an unlimited 

 supply of water, as they then tend to throw out too much leaf, and the bark 

 becomes .flabby and deficient in tannic acid. 



