554 TAXS 



Golden or Broad-leaved wattle (A. pycnantha). All these and 

 other wattles or Acacias have been introduced into Ceylon and 

 established at elevations of 4,000 to 6,000 feet. A few years 

 ago Mr. KELLOW, of Albion Estate (elevation about 4,500 ft.), 

 disposed of a large quantity of the bark of Acacia decurrens 

 for use by tanners in Colombo, at about Rs. 140 ( 9. 5.) per ton. 

 Wattles are also cultivated in India, South Africa, etc. Of Black- 

 wattle bark large quantities have of late years been exported from 

 Durban. Apart from the bark, most of the wattles afford excellent 

 timber. The small compressed seed is extremely hard, and should 

 be soaked in almost boiling water for at least twenty-four hours 

 previous to sowing. A pound contains from 30,000 to 50,000 seeds. 

 Seedlings are best raised in baskets or joints of bamboo or reed ; 

 the tall grass Arundo Donax affords useful reeds for this purpose. 

 The cultivation of Wattle-barks is very simple. They thrive in 

 almost any barren soil, provided there is sufficient depth for the 

 initial roots to penetrate. The plants should be planted about 

 12 to 15 feet apart. The bark may be profitably peeled from trees 

 six to eight years old, and an average yield of 28 Ib. per tree may be 

 expected at this age. Full-grown trees supply the best quality, and 

 yield as much as one cwt. of bark, very large trees giving even 

 more. In Australia, the cost of stripping the bark now varies from 

 2 to 2. 5s. per ton. To obtain the bark, the trees are cut down 

 and stripped at once. Wattle-bark has in recent years dropped in 

 price and fetches at present from 6 to jG8 per ton, according to 

 quality. 



OTHER IMPORTANT TANNING PLANTS. 



Botanical and Common Xame Native Country, etc. ' Parts 



Acacia Catechu. Cutch; Catechu. 



Areca Catechu. Arecanut ; 



" Puwak," S. 

 Careya arborea. Patana Oak : 



44 Kahata," S. 



Cassia auriculata " Ranawara," S. 

 Matara Tea. 



N. India, Burma, etc. (Heart-wood and 



A small tree. pods. 



Malaya. An erect, slender Seeds. See Minor 



pa 1m. Prod . of Ceylon . 



Ceylon, India, etc. Bark astringent ; 



A small tree. much used for 



tanning 

 Ceylon, and India. A quick Bark largely used 



growing large shrub. by tanners in 



Colombo. 



Diospyros Embryopttris. Ceylon, India, and Malaya. Unripe fruits astrin- 



"Timbit i." S. Medium-si/.ed tree. #ent, commonly 



used for tanning 

 fishing nets 



[S.=Sinhalese] 



