WATTLE CULTURE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3003, 10 November 1882, Page 2

WATTLE CULTURE.

The “ Melbourne Argus ” has received the following from a correspondent:— “ Inquiries of a most important nature are being set on foot with regard to the growth of the mimosa or wattle bark for tanning purposes, with a view of obtaining the bark from the tree without causing its destruction. It appears there is a demand springing up for its seed in Ceylon for the dual purpose of cultivation and as a shelter for other shrubs and trees. Connected therewith it has recently been discovered with regard to the cultivation of the cinchona, or the Peruvian bark tree of commerce, that its bark may be excised or taken off without destroying the tree. It bad previously been discovered that its active principle is confined to the outer bark, and the inner bark, so far as tne bitter principal for the production of quinine is concerned, is perfectly useless. It therefore comes about that, in place of the trees being peeled as formerly, they are annually shaved with a spokeshave and the bark is removed without causing any damage to the tree. Now, if the mimosa in Australia could be treated in a similar manner, a great deal of the anxiety of the tanners with regard to the gradual destruction of it would be removed, and if the tanning principal exists in its outer cuticle, as in the cinchona, and can be treated similarly, a great stride will have been made towards solving the dilemma wherewith the trade is encompassed.”