4 
WATTLES AND WATTLE-BARKS. 
placed, and mixed up with the ashes and charred coals, and the whole is 
then allowed to remain until cooled down. The seed is now ready for 
sowing. If the intention be to sow it singly, by dibbling or in some other 
way. it will have to be cleaned and separated from the residue of the lire by 
riddling, or by the aid of an ordinary grain-winnower. If, however, the seed 
is to be sown broadcast, it will be sufficient if the embers are raked off the 
heap, and the remainder, containing both ash and seed, stored ready for 
sowing. The advantage claimed for this method of preparation is that the 
seed can be sown either broadcast upon the ground without covering, or 
dibbled in the soil in the ordinary way, at any season of the year, and 
especially before the winter rains set in.” Care will, of course, require to 
be exercised to prevent loss by over-burning. A frying-pan* is used by 
some people for roasting wattle seeds. 
Secondly, the method of treatment by boiling, or hot water. Mr. Brown 
has recommended that the seed he placed in a vessel, water almost boiling 
poured upon it, and left to soak for one or two days ; the seed is then taken 
out and kept damp in a bag until swelling takes place. “ The only drawback 
to this system is that, when sown, the seed must of necessity bo covered 
with soil, and that the operation he carried out in the winter season only. 
Unless the seed he covered as it is put out, so as to keep up the necessary 
supply of moisture to complete germination, a ehango of dry weather would 
undoubtedly result in its entire loss.” Nevertheless, this is the method 
which Mr. Brown recommends growers, especially beginners, to adopt. 
Professor Tate, who, in addition to his scientific knowledge, has had much 
practical experience in wattle-planting, has instituted a series of experiments 
upon the temperature to which wattle seed may be exposed in assisting it 
to germinate. The experiments are useful, in that they ehable the operation 
of treatment with hot water to be conducted with greater confidence. In 
my own case I have been afraid to destroy the vitality of seed by the appli¬ 
cation of too high a temperature, hut Professor Tate shows that the seeds 
may bo boiled for several minutes without injury, though there is uo advan¬ 
tage in heating the water above 150° P. I quote his important experiments 
from Mr. Brown’s Report: — 
Experiment 1 . Acacia pycnanth a. —Equal parcels of seeds saturated with water at the 
following degrees of temperature : — 
InO 0 '! 
170° | 
IDO 3 ]* 
‘ 200 ° | 
212° J 
The seeds germinated in about equal proportions at the 
end of three weeks. 
Experiment 2. Acacia decrorem {A. decurrevs var. mollis r A. mollmima , is here 
meant. — J.H.M.) — Seed saturated with boiling water, and kept in Avet sand in a 
warm place, germinated at end of two weeks. 
Experiment .3. Acacia saltgna .—Seed saturated with water at 212°, July 22nd; seeds 
began to burst, July 29th. 
Experiment 4. Acaciapycnanlha. 
July 22nd, boiled for 
»» »j 
» • >» 
5) 
1 minute, 'i 
3 minutes. \ All the seeds germinated 
5 j August 9th. 
* The danger of over-heating will be minimised if a little water be put into the 
frying-pan. 
