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A. decurrens yields an important tan-bark in most of tlie States, and every 
encouragement should be given to its cultivation. This wattle and the South 
Australian A. pycnantha will supplement each other, the former flourishing in 
situations too damp and cold for the latter. Varieties of A. decurrens are at present 
abundant on some Crown and other lands in various districts of the State, where 
thousands, and perhaps millions, of seedlings may be sometimes seen, forming a 
dense, useless brush, liable to destruction by bush tires. In these localities we do not 
require to sow seed, but to use the tomahawk. They should be thinned out freely, 
to admit light and air to the most promising seedlings, which will then have some 
chance of forming trees capable of carrying a merchantable amount of bark. In 
many places selectors wage war against this tree, simply looking upon it as a 
troublesome weed. They should try the thinning process, leaving the most shapely 
trees. They will find that wattle scrub (of the right kinds) will become of value, 
instead of a nuisance. 
Mr. J. E. Brown stated that, in South Australia, this species is much less 
hardy than A. pycncintha, but in other States this is not the general experience. 
Baron von Mueller recommends planting of A. decurrens in worn-out lands overrun 
Avitli sorrel. It is fond of moisture, and not of too much heat. The Baron also 
gives its rate of growth as about 1 inch in diameter every year. Mr. J. E. Brown 
mentions some trees in South Australia 30 feet high and 8 inches in diameter, only 
5 years of age, and I can record similar experience near Sydney. It is rather liable 
to attacks by borers. It is a useful tree for making a quick-growing shelter for 
vineyards, orchards, &c. 
Cultural Notes. —The following notes are, as a rule, directly based upon 
observation with the mollis variety of Acacia decurrens, but are more or less 
applicable to all varieties of decurrens. 
Mr. Evan Francis writes : — 
In a garden in Bega, a few years ago, I sowed seeds of Black Wattle on 1st September, and on the 
1st January, following, plants were measured 11 and 12 feet high ; this, for four months, was enormous 
growth. 
Following is an account by a New Zealand correspondent (Waikato, 
Auckland), of his experience in regard to this variety, which may be useful for the 
guidance of others in similar localities :— 
I have about 5 or 6 acres of mollissima. I got the seed from Tasmania. They are growing the 
best of any I have got. They do not make much tap root; they spread the roots near the surface. They 
were sown two years ago last month (September), and some of them are 12 feet high, without any shelter. 
They are the best to remove. I planted an acre with young trees taken out of them twelve months since 
last March. I took them without any soil, and there is not one dozen in the whole lot that have died ; 
but I find that after you plant any of the Acacia tribe, they do not commence to grow till twelve months 
after they are planted. I have no doubt that they will grow much better under the bamboo system. 
In another letter my correspondent says : — 
Trees four years old are 15 to 28 feet high, and 5 inches in diameter at 3 feet from the ground. 
They had no shelter. 
