42 WATTLES AND WATTLE-BARKS. 



Mr. Brown gives the life o this tree at from ten to twelve years, and 

 states that it may be stripped from the sixth to the ninth year, according to 

 circumstances. It lives longer in sandy soils than in clay ones. 



The following six barks of this species, were forwarded to the Museum 

 by Mr. A. L. Thrupp, Ballannah, South Australia. They form a very 

 interesting series, consisting as they do of samples of the best bark obtain- 

 able, together with very inferior and ordinary specimens, grown under 

 varied influences of soil and climate : 



No. 1 is a splendid sample of the bark of this wattle, it is thick, fairly 

 smooth, and was taken from a tree of large diameter, it was grown at Mount 

 Torrens, South Australia ; analysed August, 1890, and found to contain 

 42'1 per cent, tannic acid, and 67'75 per cent, extract. 



No. 2. This is also a good specimen of bark, it was grown at Oakbank, 

 South Australia ; analysed August, 1890, and found to contain 41'75 per 

 cent, taunic acid, and 7l'38 per cent, extract. 



No. 3. Grown at Millicent, South Australia, in sandy soil, it was taken 

 from a tree of fair size ; analysed August, 1890, and found to contain 35'5 

 per cent, tannic acid, and 68'9 per cent, extract. 



No. 4. This is an inferior looking bark, scaly and fibrous ; it was taken 

 from trees growing in scrub country near Bluuiberg, South Australia ; 

 analysed August, 1890, and found to contain 30 per cent, tannic acid, and 

 59 '6 per cent, extract, which result must be considered good from such an 

 unpromising looking bark. 



No. 5. Grown at Melrose, South Australia. The bark is from young 

 trees, and not at all promising in appearance. It was analysed August, 1890, 

 and found to contain 21*2 per cent, tannic acid, and 42'3 per cent, extract. 



No. 6. This is a thin, fibrous, scaly and very inferior looking bark, taken 

 from trees growing at Carruson, South Australia, where, owing to insufficient 

 rainfall, they are stunted in growth ; analysed August, 1890, and found to 

 contain 15' 1 per cent, tannic acid, and 32'75 per cent, extract. 



Mr. G-. S. Perrin summarises the advantages of this species over A. decur- 

 rens by stating that the former species is more amenable to culture, and can 

 be pruned to a better shape, occupies less space in the plantation, and is 

 much better stripped. 



Baron Mueller (Select Exlra-iropical Plants} says: "It is of rapid 

 growth, content with almost any soil, but is generally found in poor sanely 

 ground near the sea-coast, and thus also important for binding rolling-sand." 



In an earlier portion of this work I have gone into the question of soil, 

 &c. G-enerally speaking, it loves a warm climate, with only a moderate 

 rainfall. It therefore will not usually flourish at elevations over 2,000 ft. 



