468 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Dec., 1898. 
Three varieties have been planted for the purpose of obtaining tan bark, 
but of these only two are of commercial value, The third was an unfortunate 
introduction, and in New Zealand formed a large part of the earlier-laid-out 
plantations. It is comparatively worthless. ‘This is the Acacia dealbata. 
The second best is the Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha), the bark of 
which yields a large per cent. of tannin. But this does not form a large-sized 
tree, and from its habit of growth, throwing out many stems, more like an 
immense bush than a tree, it is more troublesome, and consequently more 
expensive to strip than the Black Wattle (Acacia decurrens), which grows to a 
respectable size and forms a good straight barrel. Wattle-bark is exten- 
sively exported from Tasmania and New Zealand. The price has fallen to 
£5 15s. per ton, whilst formerly the bark in bundles fetched £12 per ton. But 
it will pay at the lower price, once a plantation is established. It takes about 
nine years before a full return can be obtained. 
The wattle, whilst doing well on poor soils, has no objection to a richer 
one, provided it be well drained. Hence on the naturally drained slopes and 
valleys of the ranges, plantations may be formed with almost a certainty of 
success. Bush fires will naturally do much damage, but the effects of these 
may be minimised by judiciously planting—leaving breaks between the blocks. 
Inspector Clifton, of Auckland, New Zealand, describes the wattle planta- 
tions at Wairangi. He says the usual procedure in forming a wattle plantation is 
to fell and clear the sernb, plough, and work down roughly with dise harrows, 
and sow during the month of October.* Scald the seed, and sow at the rate of 
1 lb. per acre. A great advance on this is to drill in $-lb. of seed with 1 ewt. 
of bonedust. ‘Trees so treated are, at two years, equal to those of four years’ 
growth sown without manure. 
The cost of wattle-planting may be estimated as follows :— 
& os. d. 
Clearing and burning, per acre ... so O 
Ploughing ... we ee a O Tf 
Disc harrowing, one stroke oi O i 8 
Sowing... - © W &) 
Seed; 1 Ib. 5. ao M BF @ 
Harrowing ... Ot @& 
Total ee sl © © 
To this, with advantage, may be added— 
s. d. 
Second ploughing, at 6s. per acre eee 6 O 
Bones, 13 cwt., at £5 10s. per ton 8 3 
Total ... AN oe 14 3 
The returns may be estimated at— 
AB th a5) kt hs 
Per acre—10 tons of green bark=5 tons 
dry, at £5 15s. perton .., 65 28 15 0 
Expenses— 
Shipping 10 tons, at £1 per ton oo 1) O © 
Weighing, carting, and storing 10 tons, 
at 2s. Gd. 4, 1a Ore ae by) 
Railage, about 5s. on 5 tons... boxy By 0) 
——- 12 10 O 
£16 5 O 
From this has to be deducted rent, interest, &e. 
* The scrub here alluded to is not the dense yine scrub with which we are familiar in Queens- 
land,—Ed. @.4.J. 
