232 MONEY IN" BEES IN ATJSTKALASIA 



It is to be regretted that so many individual botanists 

 are constantly permitted to "juggle" witli the classifica- 

 tion of the Australian flora. In many cases they desire 

 to appear infallible and rather than allow a rival to score 

 a point prefer to make confusion more confounded. 

 The Eucalypts and the Acacias suffer grievously in the 

 process. One botanist has suggested that the list of 

 Acacias in this book is very incomplete. He states that 

 over 500 forms of acacia are indigenous to Australia and 

 in the preface of a small work deplores the existing tangle, 

 then straightway proceeds to urge the creation of a new 

 variety. Many of the Acacias are of no practical value to 

 the apiarist, and the author would remind kindred critics 

 that this work is a bee-book, not a botanical census. 



The distribution of the Acacias over the various States 

 has been compiled by the author from a numerous collec- 

 tion of letters from interstate bee-farmers ; it is therefore 

 reliable. 



Acacia (Hedge), (armata). A bushy shrub bearing 

 numerous spines and bright yellow blossom similar to 

 many other acacias ; yields a fair amount of yellow pollen 

 in spring. It is extensively used as a hedge plant, and 

 is one of the few native plants proclaimed a noxious weed 

 by the State of Victoria. 



Acacia (False), {Robinia pseud-acacia). This is the 

 Black Locust of the United States, and is common enough 

 in the flower gardens of Australia. It bears beautifully 



