WATTLES AND WATTLE-BARKS. 21 



original outlay. Next year I hope the thinning will realise something like 

 3 per acre. In three years time from this (1888) we purpose stripping 

 the whole crop, when I am certain it will realise at least 50 per acre." 

 Mr. Brown informs me that the second thinning alone, made in 1889, 

 realised 200, equal, of course, to 5 per acre. 



DETAILED ESTIMATES. 



1. The following statement showing the profit to be derived from the 

 systematic cultivation of wattles, was compiled from the evidence given 

 before the Board of Inquiry on "Wattle Cultivation, Melbourne, 1878, and 

 forms an appendix to their report. (The Board recommended A. deciirrens 

 and A. pycnantha.) 



Receipts derivable from a Wattle Plantation of say 100 acres, planted in the 



manner proposed. 



Each acre planted with wattles* 10 feet apart, would carry 400 trees ; at 

 the end of fifth year, trees would yield say 56 Ib. matured bark ; 

 stripping only every third tree 333 tons would be obtained off 100 

 acres ; this, at 4 per ton, would give at first stripping 1,332 



In the sixth (or following) year, a similar number of trees would be 

 stripped, the bark having increased in weight say 14 Ib., the increased 

 yield of second stripping would therefore be 400 tons at 4, making 1,600 



In the seventh year the remaining trees would be stripped, from which a 



still greater increase would be obtained, say 430 tons at 4, making 1,920 



The aggregate yield of bark during the first eight years, 1,215 tons, 



amounting in value to 4,852 



Estimate of Expenditure on a Wattle Plantation of 100 acres during eight 



years. 



Rent of 100 acres for eight years, at 6s. per acre per annum 240 



Ploughing 100 acres in drilh 10 feet apart 25 



Sowing wattles and actual cultivation, including cost of seed 37 10 



Supervision for eight years, say, 10 per annum 80 



Pruning the trees, taking off useless wood, &c. (only 



necessary for two years), 10s. per acre 50 



Incidental and unforeseen expenses 27 10 



Interest on the whole amount expended during eight years 240 



700 

 f Actual cost of stripping and carting, as shown below ... 1,515 



1,515 



^Profit balance, exclusive of improvements or supplemen- 

 tary sowings 2,637 



2,637 



4,852 



*This estimate is evidently based on the assumption that decurrens is the Wattle selected. 



t The cost of stripping would not exceed 15s. per ton. on account of the facilities presented by the 

 regularity of the trees, while carting would represent another 10s. per ton. These combined charges 

 would be 25s. per ton, and on 1,215 tons would be 1,515, leaving a clear profit on 100 acres (after allowing 

 for primary expenditure) of 2,637. 



J In addition to the bark taken off the land, a fresh supply would be available in two years afterwards, as 

 the Board recommend that every tree stripped should be replaced by another sowing. All improvement 

 effected may be calculated as additional profit. 



