6 
WATTLES AND WATTLE-BARKS. 
Mr. A. L. Thrupp, of Woodside, South Australia, is in timbered country 
opposed to the felling of the timber (non-\vattle), as he is of opinion that 
the trees if ringed, form, even in their dead state, a protection of no mean 
value against frost and high winds for the young wattle plants. 
Seed is preferably sown immediately the winter season has set in. 
Mr. 1*\ Krichauff, of South Australia, caused wattle seeds to be sown 
upon some sandy land in the Bugle .Ranges during May and August. Those 
sown in August made much greater progress than those sown in May. The 
seeds were sown upon a young barley crop, and then trodden in by sheep. — 
(< Journal 6 f S. A. Bureau of Agriculture , Nov. 1S89.) 
Following arc extracts from a leaflet, giving a few simple directions in 
regard to wattle cultivation, which has been issued by the Superintendent 
of Technical Education, under the direction of the Minister of Public 
Instruction. Some of the points have already been touched upon :— 
“ Nursery . —If there be only a small area to be planted witli wattles it is 
best to raise seedlings in a nursery. Whilst young they can be easier 
looked after and protected. "Wattles will not stand transplanting at every 
season of the year with any degree of success ; therefore they should be 
planted in small flower-pots or bamboos, in which they can bo readily taken 
to the open ground. I f grown in flower-pots, three or four seeds |in each 
will be sufficient. When the plants arc up, weed out all but the strongest 
one. After they are a few weeks old the pots will be found to be full of 
root ; they should then be removed to their permanent home. To take 
them out of the pots turn them upside down, and by placing a finger in the 
drainage bole at the bottom of the pot the plant with its roots can he easily 
taken out, and will suffer nothing by removal. In the State Nursery at 
Grosford the seeds are sown in boxes containing peaty loam, mixed with 
clean, sharp sand, the soil being kept always moist. When the seedlings are 
sufficiently established they are transferred to the open ground. 
To sow broadcast or in drills . — If the seeds have been assisted in their 
germination by means of hot ashes, rake or sift out the larger coals and sow 
the ashes with the seeds. If the germination has been commenced by the 
hot water process, mix the seed thoroughly with dry ashes or sand—this 
will prevent the seeds from sticking together — then sow broadcast or in 
drills in the usual way. If the seeds are to be dibbled they must be freed 
from the ashes AY hicliever method bo adopted for sowing, the seed should be 
well covered, and in the case of those that have been soaked in water this 
is essential, for a few hot and dry days would effectually check all further 
growth. Three or four seeds at about three, feet apart is the distance 
required; this will allow for thinning. 
“ Do not cover the seeds too deeply ; about an inch underground will be 
ample. 
“ Sow sparingly ; this will save a lot of. thinning afterwards.” 
(d.) COMMERCE IN WATTLE-SEED. 
It goes without saying that in order to assist the development of wattle 
cultivation, it is necessary that there must he increased facilities in New 
South Wales for procuring seed. I have already alluded to the fact that it 
would be false economy to allow considerations of price to stand in the way 
