‘ 
6 BULLETIN 9, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
that wattle plantations must be protected from fire by fire breaks 
“and also by the removal of the inflammable brush from among 
them. At the same time, the finely divided foliage of Acacia decur- 
rens makes it the most susceptible of the commercial wattles to 
destruction by fire.” In Natal, according to Mr. David G. Fair- 
child—— : : 
The greatest enemy of the wattle is the grass fire. From the surrounding prairie 
such fires spread into the plantations and destroy them. ‘To prevent this, nearly 50 
miles of fire breaks, made by planting broad strips of prairie, have been constructed 
about the forests, and the expense of this adds materially to the original cost of estab- 
lishing a wattle estate. 
Another author, writing from the Transvaal,? calls attention to the 
prevailing notion that ‘‘it is commonly supposed that wattles a few 
years old are safe from fire, and in fact make good fire breaks. This, 
however, is not the case, and many disastrous fires have entirely 
destroyed wattle plantations.” A fire which merely defoliated the 
trees scorched the bark and rendered it valueless. ‘‘From this it 
will be seen how very necessary it is to protect the plantations from 
fire as far as possible. ‘This can best be done by plowing or burning 
wide belts around the trees,” and by dividing the plantation into 
blecks by means of roads, which must be kept clean. 
OTHER -INJURIES. 
Frost is, of course, to be avoided, though many species will stand 
temperatures of 20° F. if not too prolonged. Hail may do consider- 
able damage by bruising the bark and breaking off shoots. Crooked 
stems and branches have resulted from hail injury. 
A black-wattle plantation in Hawaii suffered a loss of 20 per cent 
due to three causes—from being overmature, from stock browsing, 
and from insect enemies. Goats are particularly injurious, and their 
severe cropping will altogether destroy growth. 
HISTORY OF ACACIA CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 
Those who first planted acacias in California obtained only the 
species which had been planted on the Atlantic coast and in the Mid- 
dle West. Many of these species were not in the least adapted to the 
California climate. -It was then suggested that since western Mexico, 
Chile, and southern Europe had climates similar to that of California, 
acacias from these regions would be suitable, but introduction was 
slow and difficult. The Spanish settlements had furnished a few 
1 Bulletin 51, Bureau of Plant Industry, Miscellaneous Papers, ‘‘The Cultivation of the Australian 
Wattle,” pp. 21-25. 
2 Lionel E. Taylor, Assistant Conservator of Forests, in Forestry Section of Transvaal Agricultural 
Journal, Jan., 1910, vol. 8, No. 30, Agricultural Department, Pretoria. 
