30 
WATTLES AND WATTLE-BARKS. 
This species flowers in the early spring, whereas A. mollisnma (which it 
closely resembles), flowers in midsummer. A black bark, slightly rugged, 
from Mulgoa, Penrith, gave me 85*56 per cent, of tannic acid, and 50*2 per 
cent, of extract. Jt was known locally as “ Green Wattle.” 
A specimen from Hyde, near Sydney, yielded the author 48*74 per cent, 
of extract, and 32*33 per cent, of tannic acid. ( Proc . R.S., N.S.W., 1887, 
p. 93.) 
A sample from Cainbewarra, N.S.W., from trees 20 to 30 feet in height, 
and 6 to 8 inches in diameter, gathered in August, 1SS6, was found to 
contain 52*16 per cent, of extract, and 32 08 per cent, of tannic acid. 
(JProc. R.S., N.S. W., 1887, p. 33.) A hark grown in the same neighbour¬ 
hood, and analysed in April, 1890, gave 47* L per cent, of extract, but only 
24**13 per cent, of tannic acid. It is a smooth bark, but from a young tree, 
being only i of an inch thick, and rather fibrous. Had this bark been 
allowed to remain on the tree a couple of years longer, I feel sure that the 
percentage of tannic acid would have much increased. 
A sample from Herriga (on the high table-land from Howra to Braid- 
wood, 2s .8.W.) was analysed by the author, and gave the excellent result of 
36*3 per cent, of tannic acid, with 62*54 per cent, of extract. {Proc. R.S ., 
N.S. W., 1888, p. 271.) Height of tree, 15 to 20 feet; diameter, 8 to 12 
inches. It was stripped in January, and analysed the following August. 
This is the best sample of A. decurrens bark which has hitherto been 
examined by me. 
A second sample from the same district yielded 31*75 per cent, of tannic 
* acid, and 62*35 per cent, of extract; while a third sample gave 29*25 per 
cent, of tannic acid, and 59 per cent, of extract. A fourth gave 24*99 per 
cent, of tannic*, acid, and 53*96 per cent, of extract. 
Mr. Thomas Shepherd, an enterprising tanner of Cambowarra, H.S.W., 
has kindly furnished me with the following information in sending the first 
sample from Nerriga. Of all Hew South Wales localities he prefers Xerriga 
for A. tlccurrens bark. lie says it would be quite equal to Tasmanian if it 
could be obtained as finely ground. Prom Cambewarrn bark Mr. Shepherd 
obtains only two liquors, of which the second is very weak, while from the 
Nerriga bark be invariably obtains three strong liquors. In his opinion the 
best time for stripping is when the trees are in bud, and have just come into 
flower. Hext to the Nerriga bark he speaks highest of that coining from 
the Bega District. 
Mr. Shepherd remarks that if the hides be tanned too hard, part of the 
tannin could be removed and the hides rendered softer. A. binervata bark 
permits this but not A. decurrens . 
A. decurrens is an important tan-bark in most of the colonies, and as the 
tree grows in the poorest soils, every encouragement should be given to its 
cultivation. This wattle and the South Australian A. yycnantha will supple¬ 
ment each other, this wattle flourishing in situations too damp and cold for 
the latter. A. dccu)*rens and A. mollissima are at present abundant on some 
Crown and other lands in various districts of the Colony, where thousands, 
and perhaps millions, of seedlings may he sometimes seen, forming a dense 
useless brush, liable to destruction by bush fires. In these localities wo do 
not require to sow seed, but to use the tomahawk. Thin out freely, to admit 
light and air to the most promising seedlings, and they will have some chance 
of forming trees capable of carrying a merchantable amount of bark. 
