126 



Another sample, taken from a tree between 40 and' 50 feet high and 15 

 inches in diameter, at a place 12 miles from Burragorang Mountain, where 

 this species was growing in very large quantities, was analysed July, 1890, 

 and found to contain 34-4 per cent, of tannic acid, and 69-33 per cent, of 

 extract. This is a perfect specimen of bark of this species, being of good 

 thickness, smooth, and of good colour. 



A sample from Cambewarra, from trees 20 to, 30 feet in height, and 6 to 

 8 inches in diameter, gathered in August, 1886, was found to contain 32-08 

 per cent, of tannic acid, and 52-16 per cent, of extract. A bark grown in. 

 the same neighbourhood, and analysed in. April, 1890, gave only 24-13 per 

 cent, of tannic acid, and 47-1 per cent, of extract. It is a smooth bark, but 

 from a young tree, being only one-eighth of an inch thick, and rather 

 fibrous. Had it been allowed to remain on the tree a couple of years longer, 

 I feel sure that the percentage of tannic acid would have much increased. 



A sample from Nerriga (on the high tableland from Nowra to Braid- 

 weod) gave the excellent result of 36-3 per cent, of tannic acid, with 62-54 

 per cent, of extract. Height of tree, 15 to 20 feet; diameter, 8 to 12 inches. 

 It was stripped in January, and analysed the following August. This is 

 the best sample of A. decurrens bark which has hitherto been examined bjr 

 me. 



A second sample from the samfe district yielded 31-75 per cent, of tannic 

 acid, and 62-35 per cent, of exti'act; while a third gave 29-25 per cent, of 

 tannic acid, and 59 per cent, of extract. A fourth gave 24-99 per cent, of 

 tannic acid, and 53-96 per cent, of extract. 



A bark from Bateman's Bay, collected in February, and said to be known 

 locally as " Silver Wattle,"* fielded the very satisfactory result of 34 per 

 cent, of tannic acid, and 59-45 per cent, of extract. It was obtained from 

 trees 50 feet high and 9 inches in diameter. 



A second specimen from the same locality, collected at the same time, and 

 labelled, probably more correctly, " Green Wattle," gave the even better 

 result of 36-25 per cent, of tannic acid, and 60-3 per cent, of extract. It is 

 as good as any Victorian or Tasmanian. 



Mr. Thomas Shepherd, an enterprising tanner of Cambewarra, kindly 

 furnished me with the following information in sending the first sample 

 from Nerriga. Of all New South Wales localities, he prefers Nerriga for 

 A. decurrens bark. He says it would be quite equal to Tasmanian if it 

 could be obtained as finely ground. From Cambewarra bark Mr. Shepherd 

 obtains only two liquors, of which the second is very weak, while from the 

 jSTerriga bark he invariably obtains three strong liquors. In his opinion the 

 best time for stripping is when the trees are in bud, and have just come into 

 fiower. Next to the Nerriga bark he speaks highest of that coming from 

 the Bega district. 



I have examined a sanjple of bark called " Green Wattle," from Bell's 

 Creek, Araluen, N.S.W. It was from trees 25 to 30 feet high, with diameters 

 from 6 to 18 inches, was isrrown on granite soil, and was collected in Novem- 

 ber, 1888. In April, 1890, it was analysed, with the following result: — • 

 Tannic acid, 31-23 per cent. ; extract, 64-15 per cent. It is smooth, compact, 

 yields a light-coloured powder with some fibre, is a quarter of an inch thick, 

 and' is to be ranked with the best of our New South Wales barks. 



• It is aometimes difidcult to tell this tree from the true Silver Wattle (var. dealbata), 

 but usually they are different enough. 



