WATTLE TREE GROWING.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 637, 22 August 1882, Page 2

WATTLE TREE GROWING.

" Old Farmer," in writing on the above subject to the Industrial Gazette, says : — " The wattle is a tree not diQieult of cultivation, and soon reaches a stage when a profit can be derived from its growth— both from the bark imd the gum that exudes from the trees. The tanners in Now Z.'.-vland havo hitherto been greatly dependent on Australia for the supply of bark for their trade, but from the-ruthless destruction of the wattle trees the quantity has decreased within the past few yeans to such an extent that the price has advanced ho much that thoy cannot afford to import it. Even in Victoria and New South Wales the tanners are unable to carry on the manufacture of leather because of the scarcity of good bark. If this be the ease in countries the natural habitat of this tree, how much more reason will the tanners in this colony have to complain of the hindrances to their success in business, for it is well known that there are but few tj-eoci growing natural y in New Zealand which' have barks containing the tiinnin ingredient in any quantity. Practical evidence as to the scarcity of wattle tree bark and the difficulties encountered by our tanners is given in a pamphlet recently published by Michaelis, lie.lienstcin and ITarqiihar, of Dunedin, and addressed to the ' Farmers and Landed Proprietors of New Zealand.' These gentlemen are , largely engaged in the manufacture of leather, and their testimony as to tho necessity for attention to the culture of wattle is worthy of: serious consideration. To show how much in earnest these gentle men are, they are prepared to offer bonuses for the. production of bark, as follows :— ' For the lirst 100 tons wattle bark (either black or golden) delivered at their works, Glendermid, near Dunedin, in addition to the full market rates, a bonus of £150; for the second 100 tons, &c, £100 ; and for tiie thin! 100, £50.' This offer remains open for six years, and no doubt they will be glad to be called upon to pay v cheque in f ullilment of their spirited offer at an early date. The report of the lJoard of Enquiry, Victoria, 1878, says:— The wattle grows lvndily in almost any soil, and generally it requires so little attention as to make its cultivation extremely proiitabio. The wood of the wattle is of caiiderabie value for indiiKtri.nl purposes; it can be readily utilised for cask staves, for axle spokes, for axe and pick handles, and many other

articles, requiring a tough durable grain. When dried, it forms the best firewood known for culinary and all domestic purposes, also for ovens and furnaces. The commercial uses of the wattle are multifarious, as in addition to the value oi the bark and wood, a good profit may be derived from the sale of the gum,' (an article realising in London from 25s to 30s per cwt.) The best descriptions are the acacia pyonantha, the golden or broad leaf, and acacia decurrens, black or feather leaf. In one pound of seeds of the latter there are 40,000, and of the former 30,000, which cost about 10d 6d per lb. In the Leader, Victoria, of a recent date there appeared the following remarks :—' The Tariff Commissioner reports that the supply of wattle bark is rapidly decreasing, and that unless systematic cultivation of the wattle, either by the State or private individuals, is at once commenced, three-fourths of the tanners of Victoria moss close their establishments in less than three years,' and again. ' with reference to the question as to whether wattle bark culture by private individuals would be likely to pay, it is worthy of note that evidence was obtained by the Commission during their visit to North Gipps Land (climate nearest to New Zealand in Victoria) to the effect that it would prove remunerative, especially upon poor soil not calculated to give heavy returns in other directions. It was shown that land that required fifteen or twenty acres to keep a sheep alive would just be ac profitable to the wattle grower as rich pasture land to the grazier. The estimate taken at that time (1878), it must be remembered, was based upon the then market price of bark, viz, £4 per ton, while now the rate has risen to £7 10s per ton ! There is throughout the Colony, in the aggregate, a Jarge quantity of land of the poorest soft used by the farmers as permanent pasture, and upon such soil it would pay well to establish wattle planta tions. Wattles grow in almost any soil, but their growth is most rapid in loose sandy patches,; or where the surface has been broken for agricultural or other purposes.' As may reasonably be supposed, I have no practical experience in the matter of wattle tree growing, neither have I any direct knowledge of the actual results that are likely to be derived from the culture of such trees, and t must therefore be indebted to outside sources for information on the subject. But this Ido know, that these trees grow readily enough wherever they have been tried, and that there are thousands of acres of dry shingly land both in Canterbury and Otago which are well adapted for the purpose. If covered with wattles such land would be infinitely more profitable than as they are now used for the depasturing of a lot of miserable and half-starved merino sheep. The bleak and sterile aspect of these treeless plains would be exchanged for the beautiful foliage of the acacia, and possibly the dry and hot winds would be less frequent and less destructive if large areas were devoted to the growth of these useful trees. "There is good reason to believe that the export of wattle bark to England would prove a good speculation. From London iilcs of January, 1882,1 gather that ground bark was from £10 to £13, chopped £9 to £12 10s, and even as high as £10 had been given for best Adelaide. The manner of cultivating the trees is of a simple nature, and may be described in a few words, and Mr. J. B. Armstrong, of Christ clmroh, must be credited with theinfonnation so succinctly given :— 'Ii order to save the expense of the ordinary system of tree planting, the ground intended for the wattles should be ploughed in parallel drills, 10ft. apart and 4in. deep, into which the seeds are to lie dropped in the month of September, at a distance of 18in. apart, along the furrow, and covered to a depth of not more than one quarter of an inch. This may be done either with the hands or with a smull drill. After the plants have come up they should be thinned out to a distance of sft. apart, and afterwards to lOfv. Great care should be taken that the seed obtained is of the true kind, and that it is sound and good, as wattle seed varies much in quality. I do not think thet the 6eeds of the true acacia decurrens can be obtained in quantity in this ooiony, but they are obtainable in Melbourne. Before sowing, the seeds should be placed in hot water, and allowed to remain fer some hours, in order to soften the hard shell by which the germ is surrounded. For the first two years the young trees will requiie a little pruning. First, the removal of the lower branches, ho that a clean clear stem may be formed, which renders the stripping easier and increases the yield of bark.' "He also writes, ' that the proper time for barking wattles in this colony is probably in the months of October, November, ami December, at which season the bark is most fully charged with tannin.' If the publication of these remarks and quotaLions have the. effect of directing the attention of the Government to the important subject of forestry, and should some of those land owners in Otago and Canterbury who possess lands which are now comparitively worthless be induced to try wattle tree culture, my object will be. attained, perhaps ..there tre those amongst your fettle rs wlio could supplement what I have written, or correct Uty errors into which I n»y have inadvertontly fallen from my inexperience in this branch of industry. Ido think that Government might legitimately offer a good substantial bonus to encourage the production of bark, an article which'is likely to become at no distant dato a considerable and profitable item in our list of exports."