30 



than those given by the Conservator of Forests for Victoria 

 Mr. Perrin. A sample of Australian seed averaged 

 1,450 grains to the ounce, a sample from the Cape Flats, 

 1,730. 



Acacia saligna. SALIGNA WATTLE. 



The common vigorous growing Wattle with the largish 

 leaf that has been so successfully planted on the Cape Flats 

 where it is erroneously known as u Port Jack&on " Wattle. 

 It comes not from Port Jackson (Sydney) but from Western 

 Australia and finds thus a congenial climate on the Cape 

 Flats, where the vigour of its growth fully compensates for 

 the somewhat lower percentage of tan in its bark. 

 According to Maiden this wattle should yield HO per cent. 

 of tan. In the Cape Peninsula bark has been obtained 

 equal in its percentage of tannin to bolh Black and 

 Pycnantha wattles when analysed. Tanners however will not 

 accord it an equal value or price. The present value of 

 saligna bark from the Cape Flats is about 5 per ton. 

 Exported it has not fetched prices equal to Natal Black 

 Wattle bark. Happily however there is a strong and 

 steady local demand for it. It is the most important 

 tanning body used in the Cape Town tanneries. It costs 

 about 3 5s. to strip and deliver the bark in Cape Town. 

 At Knysna Saligna grows with a vigour equal to that of 

 Black Wattle, but it has a bushy instead of a tree-like 

 habit of growth. A. saligna is inde ed too often liable to run 

 into small stems that are not worth peeling for bark. This 

 tendency is believed to be checked by planting in rows as 

 far apart as 5 yards. Acacia saligna is the " Golden 

 Wattle " of West Australia. It is beautiful not only on 

 account of its peudant masses of rich yellow blossom but 

 for its hanging willow-like foliage. Hence the name saligna. 

 In West Australia it has a widely spread habitat. In 

 Western S. Africa there is no hardier tree and it flourishes 

 everywhere from. Bechuanaland and Namaqualand down to 

 the Cape Flats. It always seeds profusely. The soaked 

 seed has a stinking odour. An ounce of seed averages 

 1,240 grains. 



