8 
WATTLES AND WATTLE-BARKS. 
New South Wales. —Mr. Charles Moore, F.L.S., Director of the Botanic 
Gardens, Sydney,—“ They are a very profitable crop indeed.” 
Tasmania. —Mr. F. Abbott, Curator of the Botanic Gardens, Hobart,— 
“ I have not the shadow of a doubt that they are a valuable crop to 
any farmer; they come on in a very short period, and there is 
always a revenue from them.” 
South Australia .—Mr. J. E. Brown, F.L.S., Conservator of Forests, 
Adelaide,—“ With regard, however, to the wattles, there can be 
but one opinion as to their cultivation being the means of a large 
and most valuable sourco of revenue both to individuals and to the 
State.” 
Victoria. —Mr. I. Hallensteiu, tanner, currier, and leather merchant, 
Melbourne,—“ I do not think a farmer or anyone with the means 
could produce any crop more valuable than the wattle-bark. AVe 
have got faith in it, or we would not have gone to the expense of 
putting 800 or 1,000 acres under cultivation.” 
The following evidence was given by Mr. AV\ Ferguson, Inspector of State 
Forests, A 7 ictoria:— 
“I calculated that from the time the seed was sown at the Majorca plan¬ 
tations, Ballarat, in seven years we should get about 10 tons to the acre of 
bark. That is, off the trees that were fit for barking at that time, and at the 
rate—of the present rate of bark—it varies from £8 to £10 per ton. 
“ You would get 10 tons to the acre ? Yes. 
“ From trees that have been how many years growing ? Seven years. 
“ That would average £10 a ton? Yes, at the present—and it is likely 
to be more. 
“ That is, £90 per acre ? Yes. 
“ That will be about £13 per acre per annum ? Yes. 
AY ould that take all the trees, or leave a portion remaining ? Ho, only 
the first thinning out. 
“ How many thinnings would that plantation admit of year after year ? 
For years and years to come, because you will find them in all stages of 
growth. But I calculated that from the first thinning-out. 
u And would that yield as much each succeeding year ? It would yield as 
much each succeeding-year. 
“ So that you might get 10 tons per acre in each succeeding year ? Annually 
for years to come, if they are judiciously thinned, but not as they are thin- 
ning (destroying) them in the forest. If thev are properly cultivated — 
cultivated for profit. * 11 J 
Can you mention any other crop grown in Victoria more profitable than 
that :' JSo ; and it is grown on such poor land, where neither grass nor 
anything will grow. In Bodney, where I mention, there is not a bit of 
grass to be seen, and there the wattles come up thick.” 
At the irrigation farm at Islington, near Adelaide, Mr. J. E. Brown 
planted 40 acres in wattles. “ The seed was simply soaked in hot water and 
broad-casted, and the soil afterwards harrowed with a brush harrow; 
altogether, the whole expense of seed, preparation of the ground, and 
