WATTLES AND WATTLE-BAKKS. 11 



planting season. The seedling is transplanted in the "bamboo" just as it 

 stands, and in cases where the bamboo is not sufficiently rotted, they are 

 split up, in order to allow the roots to expand. Hundreds of trees thus 

 start their careers, and can be transported in one small box a brandy case 

 for instance. 



A. full description of the bamboo method (with diagrams) will be found in 

 Brown's Tree Culture in South Australia. 



Following is a more detailed account of the way to prepare and fill tlie 

 bamboo tubes, taken from a report to the Agricultural Bureau of South 

 Australia, by Mr. A. Niemann, of the Forest Department of the same 

 Colony: 



" The tubes, which should be from 4 inches to 6 inches long, are cut on a 

 bench made as follows : Take a piece of deal or hardwood about 4 feet long, 

 inches broad, and 1-| inches thick. From the right-hand corner of this, saw 

 out a piece the length the tubes are required and about 2 inches deep. 

 On the same end from which the piece has been cut, nail or screw on a 

 piece of 1 inch deal, the end of which piece should stand out flush with 

 the edge of the bench, and about f of an inch above the level of the top. 

 Along the bench fasten a cleat 1 inch in thickness and 2 inches broad, 

 standing in about 1|- inches from the back edge of the bench. Fix 

 the whole to a stand about 18 or 20 inches high, and the bench 

 is complete (of course the cleated side of the bench being the top.) 

 For cutting the tubes, a 16-inch tenon saw is used sharp, but not too 

 coarsely set. The operator takes the bamboo, pushes it tight against the 

 piece of deal nailed on to the end of the bench which forms a stopper, and 

 holding it firmly against the cleat with the left hand cuts off the tube with 

 one downward stroke of the saw r , the guide for length being the inside edge 

 of the piece as described. "With this guide there should be no trouble in 

 keeping the tubes of uniform length, w r hich they should be, a lot of time 

 and trouble being thereby avoided when placing for filling and sowing. 

 "Where a plentiful supply of bamboo is available, all the knots should be 

 cut out and only the clear tubes used. If the knotted pieces have to be 

 used, they can be bored clear with along thin-bladed knife. The tubes being 

 cut, the next operation is to place them, in position for filling and sowing. 

 A bed suitable for this purpose can be made of clay, well beaten or rolled 

 level, smooth, and hard, and enclosed in an edging of paling or any other 

 available material, which, if possible, should be the same height as the tubes. 

 Into this bed the tubes are packed as closely as possible on end, the bed 

 being any length, but not more than 4 feet wide. The tubes are then filled 

 with soil, which should be of a light sandy nature (but not pure sand), per- 

 fectly dry, and passed through a very fine "riddle'' to take out all the 



