WATTLES AND WATTLE-BARKS. 15 



resolves itself into a matter of common sense, for one must, on the one hand, 

 avoid having wattles too close to each other, otherwise "leggy" trees are 

 the result ; and, on the other hand, trees too bushy are not desirable. 



Wattle-trees should be transplanted with a moderate amount of care, as 

 they are not the hardiest of plants to stand moving. 



. TIME OP YEAR, EOR STRIPPING. 



Wattle-barks are often gathered all the year round, whereas they should 

 only be stripped for three or four months in the year (the months usually 

 recommended being September, October, November, and December)* ; out 

 of that season there is usually a depreciation of tannin in the bark. In 

 these months, also, the sap usually rises without intermission, and the bark 

 is easily removed from the tree. The impression appears to have prevailed 

 amongst bark-strippers that whenever the bark would strip it possessed full 

 tanning properties, but this is erroneous. After a few days of rain during 

 other seasons of the year, a temporary flow of sap will cause the bark to be 

 easily detached from the trunk, but then it is greatly inferior in quality. 

 (Report Victorian Board). 



(c.) HOW TO STRIP. 



A cut in the bark should be made about 3 or 4 feet from the ground, and 

 a sheet pulled on 2 downwards. In this way bark is saved, even to that which 

 is found on the large roots, and bark stripped close to the ground is usually 

 the thickest and richest in tannic acid. It is well known that strippers often 

 neglect the bark to. which allusion has just been made. 



Some people fell their wattles before stripping, and use the wood for fire- 

 wood. Bark-strippers as a rule leave about a third of the bark on the tree, 

 besides leaving unsightly dead trees. It should also be borne in mind that 

 dead and decaying trees are a source of danger to the plantation, owing to 

 the harbour they give to insect pests. The matter of utilising the bark on 

 the twigs, &c., will be alluded to under " Extracts." 



(d.) AGE AND SIZE OP TREES. 



"Wattle bark should only be procured from mature trees, i.e., from those 

 whose bark possesses the full natural strength. The Victorian Board states, 

 as has already been noted, that bark-stripping (decurrens) may profitably 

 commence at the end of the fifth year, and returns undoubtedly commence 



* No fixed time, applicable to all parts of New South "Wales and to varying seasons, can 

 be given. Farmers and others will have to find the best time from their own experience, 

 supplemented, of course, by assays of bark stripped at various periods. 



