AN ECONOMIC STUDY OF ACACTAS. 35 
in seasons of scanty rainfall it seems wise, therefore, to assist the 
germinating process. Usually this is done by placing seed in a vessel 
and pouring over it boiling water, leaving the seed to soak and swell 
for from 24 to 48 hours. Seed may even be boiled for some minutes 
without injury. 
Seed may be prepared for germination by dry as well as by moist 
heat; in other words, it may be more or less roasted. After every 
fire in the Australian “bush” perfect forests of young wattles spring 
up. Some planters burn brushwood to embers and then mix the 
acacia seed with ashes and dying coals, leaving it for several days. 
Sometimes, too, seed may be shaken in a frying pan over the fire. 
In California it has been observed that acacia seedlings come up 
abundantly where piles of acacia brush have been burned, usually in 
rings several inches wide around each brush pile. Where the short, 
dry grass and weeds under acacia groves have been burned reproduc- 
tion has been assisted both in quantity and distribution. 
The following tests, reported by. Mr. J. E. Brown (Australia) 
show the effects of various treatments of the seed: 
Acacia pycnantha.—Five parcels of seed saturated with water at temperatures of 
150° F., 170°, 190°, 200°, and 212°, respectively. All germinated wellin three weeks. 
Four parcels of seed boiled for 1, 3, 5, and 7 minutes, respectively. All germinated 
in 18 days. 
Acacia saligna.—Seed saturated in boiling water germinated in one week. 
Acacia decurrens.—Seed saturated with boiling water and then swelled in wet sand. 
Germinated in two weeks. 
Tests made for this report on California grown seed are as follows: 
Acacia pycnantha.—Seed boiled for 5 minutes germinated 30 per cent in 4 days, 
with nearly all of the remaining seed still sound at the end of 11 days. 
Acacia melanoxylon.—Seed boiled 2 minutes germinated 20 per cent at the end of 
ll days. Boiled 7 minutes germinated 6 per cent. Much of the seed, however, was 
sound and simply required more time to sprout. 
Acacia cyanophylla.—Seed boiled 2 minutes germinated 70 per cent; boiled 5 
minutes germinated 64 per cent; boiled 10 minutes germinated 4 per cent. 
After the seed has been heated it may be mixed with damp sand 
and left until sprouting before it is sown. The objections to this 
_ process are that it can not then be drilled and the seedling is more 
likely to succumb in case of protracted dry weather. Mr. Perrin, 
state conservator of forests, Victoria, mixes half a bushel of sand 
with each pound of seed and broadcasts. Some planters sow the seed 
on top of plowed ground; others cover with a harrow. Where there is 
a loose soil sheep may be driven over the tract to tread in the seed. 
Often barley is sown with the acacia seed to serve as a shelter. It is 
said that some successful plantations have been started in the scrub 
in Australia. Possibly there are places in California where the 
chaparral could be broadcasted with profit, but as a rule clearing is 
necessary. It is claimed that the seed of tanbark acacias is hardly 
