﻿AN ECONOMIC STUDY OF ACACIAS. 29 



Acacia salicina. — Stem diameter 15 inches; wood heavy, hand- 

 some, dark brown in color; weight of cubic foot 47 pounds; takes a 

 high polish; much used for furniture. 



Acacia stenophylla. — Stem diameter 20 inches. Wood very solid, 

 close-grained, dark; takes a superior polish. Is called "ironwood," 

 and is much used by cabinetmakers. 



Acacia sub-porosa. — Stem diameter 18 inches. Wood extremely 

 tough and elastic; used for wagon poles, tool handles, gunstocks; also 

 for spars of coasting vessels. 



Acacia Tcoa, of the Hawaiian Islands, has astern diameter sometimes 

 2 or 3 feet and is considered the best timber tree of the islands. Its 

 wood is easy to work, hard, handsome, in great demand for furniture, 

 boats, and building generally. It grows at an elevation of 4,000 feet 

 above the ocean. The few remaining forests of this acacia should be 

 protected and young plantations established to supply future needs. 

 The tree has not yet been sufficiently tested in California. 



Acacia catechu. — -An even more valuable acacia is Acacia catcJiu of 

 India. Stem diameter 2 feet. The heart wood, which is more durable 

 than teak, is not attacked by insects. The weight of this timber is 

 70 pounds per cubic foot, and it is used for pestles, crushers, rollers, 

 and all sorts of wheelwrights' work. 



Besides these 25 species there are about 20 more which have not 

 yet been tested in the United States, but whose wood is highly valued 

 in their native countries for beauty or durability. 



Timber Acacias in California. 



Few of the trees which have been cut in California for wood speci- 

 mens have been more than 20 years old, nor have they had diameters 

 greater than 18 inches. Larger trees are usually so ornamental that 

 owners dislike to cut them. But these older and larger trees would 

 show a better quality of timber. Another thing that should be taken 

 into consideration is that none of the timber species have been grown 

 in California under forest conditions. The specimens in Hough's 

 11 American Woods" were grown in Alameda County as park trees. 

 In California, Acacia melanoxylon, the best of the timber acacias, has 

 made a diameter growth of 18 inches in as many years, and trees 25 

 years of age attain the height of 60 feet and a diameter, in some few 

 cases, of as much as 30 inches. It is often planted as a street tree, 

 and its ability to thrive near gas works and manufacturing establish- 

 ments, where nearly every other species of tree will perish, has already 

 been commented upon. In Shasta and Amador Counties it has been 

 noted that this acacia is markedly resistant to the fumes of copper 

 smelting. In Oakland there are good specimens thriving on refuse 

 dumps and in sewage. It will stand much surplus water, alkali, and 



