129 



Baric. — The bark of tliis variety is used by the local tanners, and is spokgn 

 of fairly well as regards percentage of tannin, -bnt is not much liked on 

 account of its being considered too hard and fibrous, and therefore difBcult 

 to break up in the mill. 



It is a common belief amongst tanners (and at present I am not prepared 

 to say what basis of truth it has), that barks much subjected to frost and 

 snow are much richer in tannin than those not so subjected. The present 

 sample is from a tree grown in a very cold district. It was collected 

 October, 1888,. at Monga, from trees 20 to 25 feet high, and 6 to 18 inches 

 in diameter, growing on granite soil. Thickness of bark about A inch. 

 A smoothish bark of a light colour, but forming a rather fibrous powder. 

 It was analysed April, 1890, and found to contain 26-4 per cent, of tannic 

 acid, and 45-25 per c6nt. of extract. 



This variety would appear to attain exceptional dimensions at Yalwal, 

 not far from Nowra, as I have been informed that trees in that locality have 

 been stripped of the following diameters, viz., 9, 12, 18, and 36 inches. 

 The last diameter is certainly extraordinary, and I have not heard of 

 authentic measurements of any variety of Acacia decurrens giving over 24 

 to 30 incBes, and then only in exceptionally favourable localities; but my 

 information appears to be quite reliable, and I have heard from another 

 source of the immense size of the trees in this locality. The bark is not 

 less than 1 inch thick, and must have come from a huge wattle. It is scaly 

 on the outside, and reminds one of mountain hickory bark (A. penniiiervis). 

 It was stripped in March and analysed the same month, vrith the result of 

 29-.26 per cent, of tannic acid, and 46' Y5 per cent, of extract. A second 

 specimen from a tree 18 inches in diameter gave 25- Y5 per cent, of tannic 

 acid, and 40-8 per cent, of extract. A third specimen from a tree 9 inches 

 in diameter gave 26 per cent, of tannic acid, and 44- 05 per cent, of extract. 



A poor, thin, too-early stripped specimen (near the type) from Tewantin, 

 Queensland, stripped in July .ind analysed in September, gave 22-1 per cent. 

 of tannic acid, and 41-6 per cent, of extract. 



Habitat. — This form is best developed in South Queensland. 



Queensland. 



Between Archer's Station and Biron, and towards the Bunya (Leichhardt) 

 are localities given by Bentham. It also occurs at Maroochie. 



New South Wales. 



llogo, Moruya, Nelligen, Bateman's Bay. Found also in the Monaro and 

 Braidwood districts, and in the Jingera Mountains. 



The range of this variety should be further inquired into. 



5. Variety dealTrnta, F.v.M., "The Silver Wattle." 



Bfitanical Jffawue.: — DeaTbata, Latin, " whited," hence white-washed, in 

 allusion to the whiteness of the stem (and foliage). 



VernaciHar Name. — The Wattle which most commonly goes under the 

 name " Silver Wattle." There are, of course, several other wattles kno-wn 

 as " Silver Wattle " in restricted areas. 



t 94031— E 



