290 



Brandis (Ind. Trees, p. 264) mentions a remarkable variety — 

 pod broader and much less constricted between the seeds, bark more 

 deeply cracked and exfoliating, branches twisted and interlacing — 

 called " Kauli " or " Kowri Babul," in Berar and Khandeish, and 

 " Vedi Babul " in Poona, of which the wood is considered fit only 

 for firewood. It may be mentioned that A. arabica, the pods 

 especially, also varies considerably in Africa. 



May be propagated by seed or cuttings. The seeds require soaking 

 in water for a few days before sowing, to hasten germination. They 

 may be sown in rows, or broadcast in prepared ground, or singly in 

 bamboo pots, and thinned or planted out to distances in the final 

 stage of from 10 to 20 feet. The trees come to maturity in about 

 3 years, though if grown for the bark, according to Watt (Comm. 

 Prod. India, p. 3), thej r are considered at their best when from 4 to 6 

 years old. In order to secure the best financial res alts for tanning 

 bark and fuel it is recommended that the trees be uprooted and the 

 plantations renewed every 6 or 10 years. 



If grown for timber from 20 to 40 years would be required for full 

 development. 



A comparatively good soil and dry climate are essential conditions 

 under cultivation. 



Trees 8 and 12 feet in circumference are recorded as growing on 

 high and dry ground, in the Nile region (lat. 10° N.) (Grant. I.e. p. 67). 



Bef. — "Acacia arabica" in Diet. Econ. Prod. India, Watt, i. 



1889, pp. 17-27. " Acacia Nebneb," in Toxicologic Africaine, De 



Rochebrune, ii. fasc. 1, pp. 177-179. " Gomme Arabique, Acacia 



arabica" Heckel in Ann. L'Inst. Col. Marseille, vi. 1899, 2nd fasc. : 



Gommes, Resines, pp. 12-18. " Acacia arabica" in Man. Indian 



Timbers, Gamble, pp. 292-294. " Indian Gum Arabic, Acacia 



arabica" in Agric. Ledger, No. 2, 1902, pp. 63-74 ; and in Comm. Prod. 

 India, Watt, pp. 2-8 : Habitat, Cultivation (including cost of pro- 

 duction and profit), Gum, Uses, Tanning and Dyeing bark, Tanning 



Pods, Timber. " Acacia arabica" in Bull. Imp. Inst. i. 1903, 



pp. 91-92. " Acacia arabica" in Les Veg. Utiles de L'Afrique 



Trop. Franc. Chevalier, Perrot et Gerard, iii. pp. 52-57 (Challamel, 



Paris, 1907). " Results of the Examination of Gambia Pods 



(Acacia arabica) from Northern Nigeria," in N. Nigeria Gaz. 31st 

 July, 1908, p. 134. 



Acacia ataxacantha, DC. ; PI. Trop. Afr. II. p. 343. 



III.— Be Rochebrune, Toxicol. Afric. ii. fasc. 1, p. 184, f . 155 (pod). 



Vernac. names.— Ewon (Lagos, MacGregor). — Gommier blanc (De 

 Rochebrune, I.e.), 



Lagos (MacGregor, No. 263, Herb. Kew) ; Oloke Meji (Foster, 

 No. Ill, Herb. Kew); Geidam, N. Bornu (Elliott, No. 134, 1904, 

 Herb. Kew). 



Stated by De Rochebrune (I.e. fasc. 2, p. 393) to yield a " gum 

 Senegal " of second quality. 



Used for making hedges and stockades in Sierra Leone (Scott 

 Elliot, No. 4293, Herb. Kew). 



Bef. — " Acacia ataxacantha" in Toxicologic Africaine, De Roche- 

 brune, ii. fasc. 1, pp. 183-185 (Octave Doin, Paris, 1898). 



Acacia campylacantha, Hochst. ex. A. Rich. Tent. Fl. Abyss, i. 

 p. 242. 



[A. Catechu, Oliver, Fl. Trop. Afr. ii. p. 344, non Willd.] 



