y a 
BULLETIN OF THE 4#@y 
Be) USDEDARIMENT OF ARCUUTRE & 
No. 9 AF NWS 
. 
Contribution from the Forest Service, Henry S. Graves, Forester. 
December 5, 1913. 
_AN ECONOMIC STUDY OF ACACIAS. 
By CHartEs Howarp SHINN, 
Forest Examiner. 
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY. 
The acacias are so valuable as a source of tanning material and of 
timber, and are so well adapted to the reclamation of sandy and semi- 
desert lands that the introduction and culture of these exotics into 
certain portions of the United States may prove extremely profitable. 
To a certain extent parallels exist between the culture, in America. 
of eucalypts and acacias. Both were introduced in California about 
the same time, and both have thrived there. Commercially, too, 
their ranges are practically identical, though acacias do not make as 
large demand upon the soil. In both cases, however, the lack of 
frost hardiness limits their range. 
The aim of this bulletin is to call attention to the economic impor- 
tance of the leading acacias with the idea of bringing about more 
general planting. | 
THE GENUS ACACIA. 
ITS EXTENT. 
The acacias form the most characteristic group in the suborder 
Mimosez, of the great bean family Leguminose, represented in the 
United States by such trees as black locust (Robinia pseudacacia), 
honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) , coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus), 
and redbud (Cercis canadensis). They are, in the main, natives of 
Australia, which has about 300 species. There are 150 other species 
scattered over tlie world, principally in Asia, Africa, and America, 
with one important species, the koa, in the Hawaiian Islands. Of the 
450 not more than 75 have a known economic value, and not more 
than 50 are in general cultivation, though 150 species are growing in 
nurseries, gardens, and arboretums in the United States. A com- 
pilation of California nursery catalogues made in 1911 showed 103 
species listed. The authorities of Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 
enumerate 60 species growing within the park. 
6746°—13——_1 
