WATTLES AND WATTLE- BARKS. 13 



clown, scatter the seed, and then set fire to the scrub. This rolling is 

 effected by making a team of bullocks draw an old boiler ; the larger saplings 

 are previously cut with an axe. 



" Five years ago I put in 50 acres of wattles in a very sandy portion of 

 Mount Burr Forest, and next year I intend stripping it, and I have no 

 doubt I shall receive 5 tons per acre from it. The country is very sandy 

 almost pure sand the seed was sown broadcast, a flock of sheep run over 

 it to trample it in, and the crop was so thick that we have had to thin it 

 twice." (J. E. Brown.) Mr. Brown informs me that the first thinning 

 gave I ton of bark per acre, and there then remained about 1,200 trees per 

 acre. Calculating the small average of 10 Ib. of bark to each tree, this 

 would give a further amount of 5| tons of bark, and thus the original 

 estimate (made in 1888) was more than realised. 



Seed is preferably sown immediately the winter season has set in. 



" Mr. F. Krichauff, of South Australia, caused wattle seeds to be sown 

 upon some sandy land in the Bugle E/anges during May and August. Those 

 sown in August made much greater progress than those sown in May. The 

 seeds were sown upon a young barley crop, and then trodden in by sheep." 



(Journal of S. A. Bureau of Agriculture, Nov., 1889.) 







ADDENDUM. 



Following are extracts from a leaflet, giving a few simple directions in 

 regard to wattle cultivation, which has been issued by the Superintendent 

 of Technical Education, under the direction of the Minister of Public 

 Instruction. Some of the points have already been touched upon : 



" Nursery. If there be only a small area to be planted with wattles it is 

 best to raise seedlings in a nursery. Whilst young they can be easier looked 

 ater and protected. Wattles will not stand transplanting at every season 

 of the year with any degree of success ; therefore they should be planted in 

 small flower-pots or bamboos, in which they can be readily taken to the 

 open ground. If grown in flower-pots, three or four seeds in each will be 

 sufficient. When the plants are up, weed out all but the strongest one. 

 After they are a few weeks old the pots will be found to be full of root ; 

 they should then be removed to their permanent home. To take them out 

 of the pots turn them upside down, and by placing a finger in the drainage 

 hole at the bottom of the pot the plant with its roots can be easily taken 

 out, and will suffer nothing by removal. In the State Nursery at Gosford 

 the seeds are sown in boxes containing peaty loam, mixed with clean sharp 

 sand, the soil being kept always moist. When the seedlings are sufficiently 

 established they are transferred to the open ground. 



