276 MONEY IN BEES IN AUSTRALASIA 



Mimosese. Includes all Acacias of which there are 

 over 300 Australasian representatives. It emhraces some 

 species of great eeonomical value, such as wattle for 

 tanning leather. Others yield gum arable from the stem. 

 Mj'alls, with a highly-scented timber (well known as 

 Raspberry Jam) , have very hard and beautifully marked 

 grain in great demand amongst cabinet makers. The 

 noted Blackwood has pretty grain, and some trees are 

 much sought after for the unique markings called fiddle- 

 back. Big prices await the owners of logs showing this 

 peculiarity. 



A few years ago whole paddocks could be seen fenced 

 with posts split from Blackwood trees. Surely an object 

 lesson on wilful waste of beautiful timber, while the farm- 

 house furniture was made of the cheapest Pine. The 

 Mulga (also included in this extensive order) is relished 

 by sheep in the far interior and the Brigalows bind loose 

 sandy lands. Nearly all are amongst the characteristic 

 and beautiful flowering shrubs of Australasia. (This 

 item on the Mimosece was written after a study of the 

 Australian Orders in Dendy and Lucas* "Botany.") 

 The Blackwood posts were a personal experience of the 

 author. 



Needle Bush, {Hakea leucoptera). A shrub yielding 

 bright yellow, pollen in early summer. There is in Vic- 

 toria an indigenous Needlewood. It is a splendid honey- 

 plant and a Mildura (Victoria) apiarist writes as 

 follows: — "I am sending you under separate cover 

 sample of honey gathered from Needlewood, which 

 blooms here in December. It is by far the whitest honey 

 I have seen here, and candies very quickly. We have to 

 extract once a fortnight, whether full or not. If left 

 longer it will candy hard in the combs. I think I will 

 cut it up in blocks and retail in cartons as granulated 

 honey. It is very much appreciated here by those who 

 have sampled it on account of its 'melting' taste." 



Needle Bush, {Hakea gibbosa). In New Zealand, 

 about July when there is such a dearth of nectar-yielding 



