8 WATTLES AND WATTLE-BARKS. 



(b.) QUANTITY OP SEED REQUIRED TO THE 



ACRE. 



I have been often asked, " How much wattle seed is required to the acre r" 

 and the question seems simple enough, but it is hardly as easy to give a 

 precise answer. We have three sets of circumstances to consider : 



1. The kind of wattle seed used, whether a large sort (e.g., pycnantha), or 

 a smaller one (e.g., decurrens}, and it must also be borne in mind that seed 

 of the same species may vary considerably in size. Following are some care- 

 ful determinations of authentic seeds : 



pycnantha, 23,800 seeds to the pound. 



decurrens (normal variety from about 50 miles south of Sydney), 



28,500 seeds to the pound. 

 decurrens (mollis variety, from the celebrated Portland district of 



Yictoria), 36,200 seeds to the pound. 

 decurrens (mollis variety, Tasmaniaii commercial sample), 38,300 seeds 



to the pound. 



2. "Whether broad-cast sowing, or the bamboo method of planting, be 

 adopted. If the latter method, one has simply to compute the number of 

 trees required to the acre, and knowing the number of seeds to the pound, 

 we have the necessary data for calculating the quantity of seed to be pur- 

 chased. It will be remembered that two seeds must be planted in each 

 bamboo in case of accident. In broadcast sowing, Mr. Brown calculates (see 

 page 22) 30 Ib. of pycnantha seed to 100 acres, say i-lb. seed to the acre. 

 Mr. Perrin calculates 1 Ib. seed to the acre. These are but estimates, and a 

 margin must be allowed, for one cannot say more than that the quantity 

 required will be from i to 1 Ib. per acre. It largely depends on the care of 

 the sower, but the latter quantity must never be exceeded. In the bamboo 

 method, practically every seed germinates, and none of the plants have to be 

 wasted in thinning, as is the case in broadcast sowing. 



3. The kind of wattle grown, and the distance apart of the trees. Accord- 

 ing to the kind of wattle, whether a large sort (e.g., decurrens}, or a small 

 one (e.g., pycnantha), they will require to be planted at different distances 

 apart, viz., about 10 feet decurrens, and 3 to 6 feet pycnantha. 



Now the number of trees to the acre planted, 



3 feet apart is 4,840 



4 2,722 



5 1,742 



6 1,201 



10 435 



