﻿AN ECONOMIC STUDY OP ACACIAS. 35 



in seasons of scanty rainfall it seems wise, therefore, to assist the 

 germinating process. Usually this is done by placing seed in a vessel 

 and pouring over it boiling water, leaving the seed to soak and swell 

 for from 24 to 48 hours. Seed may even be boiled for some minutes 

 without injury. 



Seed may be prepared for germination by dry as well as by moist 

 heat; in other words, it may be more or less roasted. After every 

 fire in the Australian "bush" perfect forests of young wattles spring 

 up. Some planters burn brushwood to embers and then mix the 

 acacia seed with ashes and dying coals, leaving it for several days. 

 Sometimes, too, seed may be shaken in a frying pan over the fire. 



In California it has been observed that acacia seedlings come up 

 abundantly where piles of acacia brush have been burned, usually in 

 rings several inches wide around each brush pile. Where the short, 

 dry grass and weeds under acacia groves have been burned reproduc- 

 tion has been assisted both in quantity and distribution. 



The following tests, reported by Mr. J. E. Brown (Australia) 

 show the effects of various treatments of the seed: 



Acacia pycnantha. — Five parcels of seed saturated with water at temperatures of 

 150° F., 170°, 190°, 200°, and 212°, respectively. All germinated well in three weeks. 

 Four parcels of seed boiled for 1, 3, 5, and 7 minutes, respectively. All germinated 

 in 18 days. 



Acacia saligna. — Seed saturated in boiling water germinated in one week. 



Acacia decurrens. — Seed saturated with boiling water and then swelled in wet sand. 

 Germinated in two weeks. 



Tests made for this report on California grown seed are as follows: 



Acacia pycnantha. — Seed boiled for 5 minutes germinated 30 per cent in 4 days, 

 with nearly all of the remaining seed still sound at the end of 11 days. 



Acacia melanoxylon. — Seed boiled 2 minutes germinated 20 per cent at the end of 

 11 days. Boiled 7 minutes germinated 6 per cent. Much of the seed, however, was 

 sound and simply required more time to sprout. 



Acacia cyanophylla. — Seed boiled 2 minutes germinated 70 per cent; f boiled 5 

 minutes germinated 64 per cent; boiled 10 minutes germinated 4 per cent. 



After the seed has been heated it may be mixed with damp sand 

 and left until sprouting before it is sown. The objections to this 

 process are that it can not then be drilled and the seedling is more 

 likely to succumb in case of protracted dry weather. Mr. Perrin, 

 state conservator of forests, Victoria, mixes half a bushel of ' sand 

 with each pound.of seed and broadcasts. Some planters sow the seed 

 on top of plowed ground ; others cover with a harrow. Where there is 

 a loose soil sheep may be driven over the tract to tread in the seed. 

 Often barley is sown with the acacia seed to serve as a shelter. It is 

 said that some successful plantations have been started in the scrub 

 in Australia. Possibly there are places in California where the 

 chaparral could be broadcasted with profit, but as a rule clearing is 

 necessary. It is claimed that the seed of tanbark acacias is hardly 



