AN ECONOMIC STUDY OF ACACIAS. 9 
ECONOMIC USES. 
The acacias were first spread abroad over the semitropic regions of 
the earth by reason of their easy culture, their adaptibility to many 
situations, and their attractiveness as shrubs or shade trees. Their 
wide range of economic uses, however, was very slowly recognized 
outside of Australia, where many species have long ranked with the 
eucalypts as profit-yielding trees. Some acacias have a remarkable 
value for the. reclamation of sand dunes, whether they are seashore 
drifts or inland barrens. Many species furnish tanbark; others yield 
forage; others produce timber of notable quality; almost all are 
suited to ornamental plantings, and many are excellent for street 
trees and for shelter belts, and several furnish many special products 
of great economic value. In fact, various species of Australian 
acacias, according to Dr. Maiden, yield food, forage, medicine, fibers, 
gums, resins, kinos, perfumes, dyes, tannins (33 Australian species 
furnish tannin in commercial quantities), timbers, and ornamental 
- finishing woods (at least 50 Australian species furnish valuable wood). 
Many Indian and African species furnish timber, gums, tanbark, 
catechu, and other products, and furnish host plants for the valuable 
lac insect (Tacharia lacca). The American Acacia greggi also fur- 
nishes lac. A. farnesiana, which is found in both the New and the 
Old World, is the famous “‘popinac”’ or “cassie” perfume plant so 
largely grown around Grasse in France. 
Thus the farmer, the lumberman, the furniture maker, the stock 
raiser, the tanner, the perfumer, the chemist, and many others are 
interested in acacias, and the more useful species are properly recog- 
nized as being worthy of establishment over large areas, and of man- 
agement on principles of forestry. The recognition of this fact has 
been notable during the last 10 years, because the best species of 
acacias are rapidly disappearing from their native countries, except 
where they have been intelligently protected and planted; and, 
further, because so many countries have successfully introduced 
acacia culture. 
ACACIAS FOR SAND-DUNE RECLAMATION. 
The acacias have great value as a ground cover, for dunes near the 
ocean, and for inland sand barrens, almost to desert conditions, since 
they will thrive with only a few inches of rainfall, provided it comes 
at such a time that the seeds can become rooted, and provided the 
temperature does not fall below 20° F. Where the average rainfall 
is not less than 20 inches and the summers are cool and the winters 
mild, almost any trees can grow if they get a start; what is needed in 
the first place, therefore, is some growth which will hold the drifting 
sands, binding them until a more stable soil, with some humus, is 
formed, and paving the way for valuable trees. This need is supplied 
by acacias. 
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