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and sturdy growth. Once established it wants little water. 

 It has the great recommendation that cattle will not eat it. 

 An ounce of seed averages 560 grains. 



Acacias^ THE TAN WATTLES. 



The species commonest in Cape Colony are arranged 

 according to their value for tan bark, thus : Acacia 

 pycnantha, Acacia decurrens. Acacia saligna. Acacia cyclopis. 

 The first on the list yields absolutely the most valuable bark: 

 the second averages bark nearly as good (Natal), and it 

 produces nearly double the amount where both grow well : 

 the third is the so-called " Port Jackson " of the Cape 

 peninsula, the mainstay of Cape tanners, and a bark that 

 often analyses as well as either of the others. The last, 

 the " Port Jackson " of the Eastern districts, has no 

 practical value for tanning. All grow readily from seed, 

 provided the seed has been scalded and soaked in warm 

 water for 2 or 3 days. Boiling water for a short period 

 will not injure the vitality of the seed. The seed should 

 be soaked till it swells to double or treble its size and 

 becomes soft enough to be crushed between the finger and 

 thumb. Where seed is scarce or the locality unfavourable, 

 wattles may be raised in tins, but it is almost always better 

 to sow the seed in situ, i.e., where it is to grow up into 

 trees. From 5 Ibs. to 10 Ibs. of seed per acre is usually 

 enough, but more seed, up to 40 Ibs. to 50 Ibs. per acre, 

 may be sown in difficult places, such as sand-drifts, wind- 

 screens, or hard gravelly soils. 



The great merit of the wattles is, that they will grow on 

 poor, sandy and sour soils, too sterile even for pines ; and 

 that they give a return in from 5 to 7 years. Acacia 

 decurrens prospers on the poorest mountain land too " sour " 

 to grow Gums. The present value of wattle bark, though 

 better than it was, is still low, so that caution should be 

 exercised in laying out plantations where the bark alone 

 (and not the firewood as well) may have a market value. 



Spring is the best time for stripping wattle bark. It is 

 better to make a cut and tear off the bark down than up, 

 as the bark near the root contains the most tannin. The 

 bulk and quality of the bark is increased by making slits 



