3 WATTLES AND WATTLE-BARKS. 



PART II. 



The Various Kinds of Wattle Barks. 



(GOOD, BAD, AND INDIFFERENT.) 



I HATE already referred to the fact that in Australia the term " wattle" is 

 applied to species of Acacia. Acacias are very largely developed in this 

 continent, there being about 312 of them, of which New South "Wales boasts 

 102, and a fresh one is occasionally discovered. The barks of all are more 

 or less astringent, owing to the tannic acid they contain, but most of them 

 are useless to the tanner, for three reasons they are either of too small a 

 size to strip profitably, their bark is too weak in tannic acid, or they are not 

 sufficiently abundant. Nevertheless a number are more or less useful, and 

 the object in furnishing the specific information in regard to each wattle 

 which follows is threefold, viz., to give information in regard to the per- 

 centage of tannic acid in those barks already used by the tanner, to draw his 

 attention to other barks worthy of notice, and to put him on his guard* in 

 regard to what, for his purpose, may be termed worthless species. Most of 

 the analyses given are my own, and refer chiefly to New South Wales barks ; 

 I hope, however, to be able to add more analyses of the wattle barks of the 

 other colonies from time to time. 



The species are true to name, herbarium specimens having been collected 

 in most instances where analyses are given. The local names are also made 

 as complete as possible. Altogether it is the most comprehensive catalogue 

 of wattle barks which has been published up to the present time. 



A number of analyses are now published for the first time. They are by 

 Lowenthal's improved process. Partly through the kindness of friends, and 

 partly through the energy of the Museum Collector, there is in the Techno- 

 logical Museum the most extensive collection of wattle barks I know of any- 

 where. I have collected many with my own hands. 



* I am quite aware that some of the barks are so worthless that it would be ridiculcus 

 to suppose that any tanner would ever dream of using them. 



