WATTLES AND WATTLE-BARKS. 55 



A specimen from Kobertson, about 20 miles from Mittagong, stripped in 

 January, yielded 28 per cent, of tannic acid, and 49'75 per cent, of extract. 

 This also gave a light-coloured liquor. It is a of an inch thick without the 

 scaly exterior ; the bark is pale-coloured, and worthy of some attention, 

 although it is inclined to be fibrous. 



Found on the Blua Mountains and its spurs (chiefly in gullies and along 

 water-courses), and in mountainous country no great distance south of 

 Sydney, c.r/., West Bargo gullies, Picton, Mittagong, <fcc. 



43. Acacia pruinosa, A. Cimn., B.M., ii, 413. 



A sample obtained, May, 1890, from Kincumber, near Gosford, New 

 South Wales, from a largish tree, was barely i inch thick when green, and 

 this, of course, would diminish on drying ; this specimen was analysed June, 

 1890, and was found to contain 24'25 per cent. o tannic acid, and 4975 

 per cent, of extract, so that it is not a worthless species as is often supposed. 

 It would come in Class B. This yields a thin greyish bark, containing little 

 fibre ; it powders well, and might easily be mistaken for a bark of superior 

 quality. The yield would not be large even from good sized trees, as the 

 bark is too thin. 



This wattle is abundant in the neighbourhood of Gosford, New South 

 Wales, where it attains a large size. It is, however, rather weak in tanuic 

 acid, and a mill may be seen falling into decay, because after the plant was 

 erected the owner found that the bark would not pay to convey far. Prom 

 superficial knowledge he might have jumped to the the conclusion that the 

 tree was A. decurrens, but the fact remains that a man was foolish enough 

 to expend a fair amount of capital without the trouble to make sure he had 

 suitable bark. 



A very fine sample of this bark from Cooranbong, near Morrissett, 

 Northern line, gave 23 per cent, of tannic acid, and 40'25 per cent, of extract. 

 These two analyses may be assumed to fix the value of this bark. 



New South Wales and Queensland. Its southern limit appears to be the 

 Brogo Biver, near Bega. 



44 Acacia decurrens, WiilcL, B.EL, ii, 214. 



[For a discussion of the names, characteristics, localities, &c., of the 

 numerous varities of this best-known species of all Australian Wattles, the 

 reader is referred to Appendix ii, page 67]. 



A. decurrens is an important tan-bark in most of the colonies, and as the 

 tree grows in the poorest soils, every encouragement should be given to 

 its cultivation. This wattle and the South Australian A. pycnantha will 



