WATTLES AND WATTLE-BARKS. 7 



In speaking oE wattles with respect to moisture, we must bear in mind 

 that they may be divided into two groups the dry-country wattles, liking 

 warmth and not too high a rainfall, of which Acacia pycnantha may be taken 

 as a type, and the coast wattles, of which Acacia decurrens may be taken as 

 a type, which are capable of flourishing with a much lower temperature, and 

 with a far higher rainfall. 



The Seed. 



(.) COMMERCE IN WATTLE-SEED. 



It goes without saying that in order to assist the development of wattle 

 cultivation, it is necessary that there must be increased facilities in New 

 South Wales for procuring seed. I have already alluded to the fact that it 

 would be false economy to allow considerations of price to stand in the way 

 of obtaining the best seed procurable from thoroughly healthy trees, for the 

 ordinary cultivator only requires a pound or two, and the outside cost will 

 only be a few shillings. Is the success of a plantation, perhaps involving an 

 interest of hundreds of pounds, to be jeopardised through haggling with a 

 seedsman over a few paltry shillings ? 



At present, of course, our seedsmen must obtain their supply of Acacia 

 pycnantha seed from South Australia, while decurrens seed, of excellent 

 quality, may be obtained from within our own territory, as well as from 

 Tasmania and Victoria. It will be to the interests of Sydney and other 

 seedsmen to establish local agents willing to push wattle-seed in districts 

 already found suitable, or supposed to be so, for any or all of the species 

 recommended for cultivation ; and I hope it is unnecessary to insist on the 

 common-sense advice of noting approximately the localities from, which seed 

 is collected, in order to prevent it being sent to districts totally different in 

 climatic conditions. The best wattles are found growing under a great 

 variety of circumstances, so there is no necessity to handicap the cultivation 

 by ignoring local conditions. 



Too great care cannot be taken to see. that the seed-collectors do not mix 

 silver wattle seed (dealbata) with decurrens. I have received complaints 

 from New Zealand, and nearly every one of the Australian Colonies, of 

 mixed seed being supplied to planters. 



Mr. Gr. S. Perrin, Conservator of Forests of Victoria, informs me that the 

 best Tasmanian decurrens seed comes from the east coast of Tasmania, 

 Spring Bay, and Swansea ; the best Victorian comes from the Portland 

 district ; the best New South Wales from the Eden district. At the same 

 time, there are considerable areas in all three Colonies which produce fine 

 trees and excellent seed. 



