131 



I think I have adduced sufficient evidence to convince intelligent people 

 that the bark is by no means a worthless one, and barks inferior even to this 

 are locally used in' districts not favoured with the alternative of the use 

 of such a bark as other varieties of decurrens. I hope that barks in a 

 particular district will be tried on tkeir merits, and not be condemned 

 without trial. 



In insisting on the general principle of assay of barks, just as a man. 

 engaged in the mining industry is always careful to sample his stone as 

 occasions require, I am quite aware of the special circumstances of Tasmania 

 as regards the " Silver Wattle," and that the case in that State against 

 this particular variety is stronger than it is in our own. In Tasmania the 

 "Silver Wattle" grows more in spars than with us; its bark has a more 

 than ordinary tendency to shrink; it is tough and fibrous (though not to 

 such an extent as A. binervata, for instance). As wattles take longer to 

 mature in Tasmania than with us, it will be quite understood that I am, 

 in no way reflecting on the wisdom of the advice of letting the cultivation 

 of the best species remain unimpeded. 



A New Zealand (Auckland) correspondent states that his four-year-oM 

 var. dealbata trees are 35 feet high in a sheltered place, with a diameter of 

 4 to 8 inches at 3 feet from the ground. They grow quicker than var. mollis 

 in his particular district. Var. dealbata is not indigenous in New Zealand 

 (nor is, in fact, any Acacia), and it is a pity that this species has been 

 introduced into that colony for its yield of tan^-bark, as I understand has 

 been done in several instances, whether deliberately or by a mistake in seed 

 I am; unable to say. 



The " Silver Wattle " sometimes obtains an enormous size in Tasmania,, 

 Victoria, and southern New South Wales. In Tasmania, Backhouse 

 measured a tree 11 feet 2 inches in girth, and " Silver Wattles " approaching 

 100 feet in height have frequently been found in all three States. 



Size. — It attains the largest size of any of the varieties of A. decurrrens. 

 In Tasmania it attains the dignity of a large forest tree, but in most of 

 the States it is of medium size. 



Habitat.- — The " Silver Wattle " is found in Tasmania, Victoria, New 

 South Wales, and a not strictly typical form occurp in the extreme south, 

 of Queensland. 



New South Wales. 



Southern Localities (in National Herbarium, Sydney). — Jindabyne, Snowy 

 Elver; Tumut, McLachlan Eiver, Nimityhelle to Tantawanglo Mountain; 

 Barber's Creek; Wingello; Berrimla; 15-16 mile-post, Wombeyan Caves to 

 Taralga; Queanbeyan (with, a yellowish indumentum, and certainly con- 

 stricted between the seeds. The indumentum in this variety may sometimes 

 be very sparse, and sometimes, consist of a glaucous covering). 



Western Localities. — Faulconbridge ; Mount Banks or King George, with 

 bright yellow tips; Jenolan Caves; Kerr's Creek, Orange; Parkes Water 

 Supply. 



Northern Localities. — Acacia Creek, Macpherson Eange, near var. mollis; 

 Apsley Falls; Stewart's Brook, shovping transit to var. pauciglandulosa. 



It is very widely diffused in New South Wales, attaining its greatest 

 development in the valleys of the Southern Tableland, in cold situations 

 approximating to those in Victoria and Tasmania. 



