﻿AN ECONOMIC STUDY OF ACACIAS. 9 



ECONOMIC USES. 



The acacias were first spread abroad over the semitropic regions of 

 the earth by reason of their easy culture, their adaptibility to many 

 situations, and their attractiveness as shrubs or shade trees. Their 

 wide range of economic uses, however, was very slowly recognized 

 outside of Australia, where many species have long ranked with the 

 eucalypts as profit-yielding trees. Some acacias have a remarkable 

 value for the reclamation of sand dunes, whether they are seashore 

 drifts or inland barrens. Many species furnish tanbark; others yield 

 forage; others produce timber of notable quality; almost all are 

 suited to ornamental plantings, and many are excellent for street 

 trees and for shelter belts, and several furnish many special products 

 of great economic value. In fact, various species of Australian 

 acacias, according to Dr. Maiden, yield food, forage, medicine, fibers, 

 gums, resins, kinos, perfumes, dyes, tannins (33 Australian species 

 furnish tannin in commercial quantities), timbers, and ornamental 

 finishing woods (at least 50 Australian species furnish valuable wood) . 

 Many Indian and African species furnish timber, gums, tanbark, 

 catechu, and other products, and furnish host plants for the valuable 

 lac insect (Tacharia lacca). The American Acacia greggi also fur- 

 nishes lac. A. farnesiana, which is found in both the New and the 

 Old World, is the famous "popinac" or "cassie" perfume plant so 

 largely grown around Grasse in France. 



Thus the farmer, the lumberman, the furniture maker, the stock 

 raiser, the tanner, the perfumer, the chemist, and many others are 

 interested in acacias, and the more useful species are properly recog- 

 nized as being worthy of establishment over large areas, and of man- 

 agement on principles of forestry. The recognition of this fact has 

 been notable during the last 10 years, because the best species of 

 acacias are rapidly disappearing from their native countries, except 

 where they have been intelligently protected and planted; and, 

 further, because so many countries have successfully introduced 

 acacia culture. 



ACACIAS FOR SAND-DUNE RECLAMATION. 



The acacias have great value as a ground cover, for dunes near the 

 ocean, and for inland sand barrens, almost to desert conditions, since 

 they will thrive with only a few inches of rainfall, provided it comes 

 at such a time that the seeds can become rooted, and provided the 

 temperature does not fall below 20° F. Where the average rainfall 

 is not less than 20 mches and the summers are cool and the winters 

 mild, almost any trees can grow if they get a start; what is needed in 

 the first place, therefore, is some growth which will hold the drifting 

 sands, binding them until a more stable soil, with some humus, is 

 formed, and paving the way for valuable trees. This need is supplied 

 by acacias. 



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