26 
A small tree, with grey foliage and rather small narrow leaves. Wood dark-red colour, often 
ringed, and otherwise prettily marked ; very hard and brittle, and rather difficult to work. Its chief uses 
are for cabinet and turnery work. Makes very handsome walking-sticks.— [Cut. Queensland Forestry 
Museum, 1904.) 
Iii western New South Wales the wood is considered very durable, and is, 
therefore, used for the lining of ivells, but then it is said to give the water a bad 
taste for several years. Perhaps this is owing to the presence of a saponin. It has 
been stated that the wood has a bad smell like the foliage, particularly when burned, 
hut this is a mistake. 
The beautiful parallel markings often seen in this wood, which then takes the 
name of “ Ringed Gidgee ” are caused by a uniform wavy grain. This form is very 
well known, and leads to its extensive use for small ornamental articles, particularly 
stockwhip handles and walking sticks. Mr. R. H. Cambage has some notes on 
Ringed Gidgee in Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. W., 1902, p. 563. 
The following analysis and description of the ash of the “ Gidgea Acacia 
(Stinking Wattle)” is by Mr. F. B. Guthrie, and will be found in the Agricultural 
Gazette for December, 1897, p. 868 :— 
Ash of Gidgf.a Acacia (Stinking Wattle). 
A sample of the ash of this plant, forwarded by Mr. A. Andrews from the neighbourhood of the 
Pera Bore, was examined some time ago. As the composition of this ash is peculiar, and quite different 
from that of the ash of any other timbers I have examined, the analysis is appended herewith :— 
Analysis of Ash of “ Gidgea Acacia,” grown at the Pera Bore. 
Insoluble and sand 
Carbonic acid (C0 2 ) 
Silica, oxides of iron, and alumina ... ... .. ... = 
Lime (CaO) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... = 
Magnesia (MgO) ... 
Potash (K 2 0) 
Soda (Na 2 0) ... . . ... ... ... ... ... = 
Phosphoric acid (P20r,) ... 
Chlorine (Cl) 
Sulphuric acid (S0 3 ) 
1 84 
39 46 
•63 
53-19 
1-61 
•29 
•36 
•81 
■02 
•96 
99-17 
Analysis of pure Ash, exclusive of sand, charcoal, and carbonic acid. 
Silica, oxides of iron, and alumina ... ... ... ... = 117 
Lime (CaO) . = 90-71 
Magnesia (MgO) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... = 2’74 
Potash (K 2 0) .' ... = -60 
Soda (Na 2 0) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... = -72 
Phosphoric acid (P 2 0 5 ) ... ... ... ... ... ... = l - 47 
Chlorine (Cl) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... = -04 
Sulphuric acid (SO 3 ) ... ... ... ... ... ... = L72 
Referring to the first of these tables, which represents the composition of the ash when burnt in 
the usual manner, it will be seen that it consists almost entirely of carbonate of lime, 53-19 per cent, lime 
being equivalent to 9.3 per cent, carbonate of lime. Mr. Andrews says it is largely used for polishing, and 
for whitewashing fireplaces, cleaning knives, spoons, and other things that knife polish is used for. As a 
matter of fact, it is very similar in composition to ordinary chalk or whitening, and Mr. Gorman tells me 
that one of the hands on the Pera Farm has done quite a finished piece of French polishing with it. 
