110 



smooth, a model of compactness, contained a minimum of fibre, and 

 therefore powdered splendidly, was of good colour, and an excellent bark in. 

 every way. South Australia had practically the monopoly of this bark, and 

 it is a grand heritage, — the envy of the Eastern States. 



Timber. — It is of no importance as a timber. After the bark is stripped, 

 the wood is sometimes used for fuel, for which it is excellent. 



Size. — Average height of typical form, 20 to 25 feet; and diameter, 6 to 10 

 inches. (iSrown.) 



Habitat. — It is confined to South Australia, Victoria, and New South 

 fWales. In our own State it is confined to country, so far as is known, 

 adjacent to Victoria and South Australia. It is only, as regards New 

 South Wales, represented in the National Herbarium, Sydney, from Tocum- 

 ,wal and from the south-east coast. We look upon this species as so essen- 

 .tially South Australian that we often forget that the type comtes from 

 "Interior of N.S. Wales" (Mitchell). 



:This Wattle has been acclimatised, in many districts of New South Wales, 

 so much so tliat it is often looked upon as indigenous in localities in which 

 it has been planted. 



It is so valuable that it shoiild be still further cultivated in localities 

 .approximating in conditions to those of the Mount Lofty Range near 

 Adelaide. The day is past when theorists may allege that it will not 

 [flourish in the Port Jackson district. 



I have seen excellent specimens growing as far west as Coolabah, near 

 iBourke. It is handsome enough to grow for purely ornamental purposes. 



It should supplement Acacia decurrens, our most generally diffused and 

 most generally useful tanning Wattle for New South Wales conditions. 



.Mr. J. E. Brown, when in South Australia, cultivated this species very 

 largely in districts found suitable for it, and his general remarks on 

 iWattle cultivation were chiefly written with this species in view. 



Except in very dry localities, this species is common to nearly all districts 

 of South Australia north of Encounter Bay, and is occasionally to be met with 

 along the coast from Kingston to the Gleiielg Kiver. Its principal habitat, 

 bowever, and the one where the thoroughly typical botanical form and the 

 largest trees of the species are found, is in the Adelaide hills and plains, from 

 Encounter Bay to Clare. For propagation purposes seed should, if possible, 

 be obtained from trees grown within these limits. In some parts of the north 

 ot the colony there is a narrow-leaved variety, with the stem and branches 

 -covered with a whitish substance, which is desirable should not be propagated, 

 as the tree is of slow growth, and does not attain payable dimensions. (J. E. 

 Brown. Reports.) 



Baron von Mueller {Select Extra-Tropical, Plants) says : — 



It is of rapid growth, content with almost any soil, but is generally found 

 in poor, sandy ground, near the sea coast, and thus also important for "binding 

 ^rolling sand. 



Generally speaking, it loves a warm climate, with only a moderate rainfall. 

 It, therefore, will not usually flourish at elevations over 2,000 feet. 



Propagation,. — Eeadily from seed. 



Mr. G. S. Perrin summarises the advantages of this species over A. 

 'decurrens by stating that the former species is more amenable to culture, 

 and can be pruned to a better shape, occupies less space in the plantation, 

 and is much beter stripped. 



