CULTIVATION OF THE WATTLE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1315, 5 April 1883, Page 3

CULTIVATION OF THE WATTLE.

(From,the Warrarapa Standard,) , The firraof Messrs Miohaelis, "Hailenstein and Farquliar. of Dunedin have published a pamphlet lipon this' siiband .they prove very, satisfactorily the importance of the cultivation of the wattle; 4he profitable nature of the industry; the certainty ; as to a constant ahd ; good market in the old country, and tho almost certainty of success in its cultivation in New Zealand. A Royal Commission, in Victoria took evidence in 1878, as to the value of the wattle for industrial purposes and we quote the following : "The wattle grows readily in almost any soil, and it requires so little attention as to make its general cultivation extremely profitable. The wood is;of considerable value for industrial purposes ; it can bo readily utilised for cask staves, for axlo spokes, for axe and pick handles, and many other articles, requiring a tough durable grain. (Ihese would of necessity be best obtained from tho mature trees, which produco also the best bark, two tons beirig equal to three tons stripped from small young trees,) When dried it forms the best firewood known for culinary and all domestic purposes; also for ovens and furnaces. It emits a clearer and greater heat than other j firewood.. The wattle may' also be' utilised for fencing, the trunks making top rails of the best description. The commercial uses of the wattle are multifarious, as in addition to the value of the bark and wood, a good profit may be derived from the sale of the gum which exudes from the tree—(value in Loudon 24s to 30s per cwt.) Under a proper system of cultivation, the gum trade could bo made an easy

and remunerative employment, more whepthe trees are punctured increasing tho yield. The beswflescviptions aro the Acacia Dccurrens—black or leather leaf. In ono pound of seeds of the latter there are 40,000, and of the former 30,000, which costs about 10s Gd per lb." The table appended to the Victorian Inquiry Report, gives the receipts derivable from a wattle plantation of gay 100 acres. Each acre planted with wattles 10 feofc apart would carry 400 trees, At the end of the fifth year, stripping one third of the trees, the yield of bark is put down at 333 tons, and the price calculated at £4 per ton would be £1332. NexG year the receipts are calculated at £2600, due to the increase in the yield of the third then barked, and the seventh year the returns are estimated at £1920, making a total of £5802, As the price of bavk is now &l 10s per ton, this total would, of course, be nearly doubled— Bay £BOOO. The expenses, including rent at the rate of 6s per acre per annum for 8 years, ploughing, sowing, interest at 8 per cent., pruning, supervision, stripping, fa., aie estimated at £2215, so that a profit of nearly £6OOO would be left." The publishers of the pamphlet state that the value of bark in New Zealand is far above the tabulated .rates; price at present for the best ground £lO 10s per ton, London prices of January 27th, quote ground £lO to £l3, chopped £9 to £l2 10s, and private advices give £l6 ashavingbeen paid for best Adelaide, while English Oak bark could be purchased from £l2 to £l4 per load of 55 cwt. The amount of cash sent out of New Zealand annually cannot be less than £12,000. In 1877 Victoria exported 7,455 tons, valued at £51,768, The export of leather, same year, £200,000; or over a quarter of a million arising solely from a plentiful supply of Mimosa. There is no doubt as to the possibility of growing it in New Zealand, surprising instances have come under our notice of trees growing upon poor soil and exposed situations; and attaining a size hardly credible, We cannot, however, vouch for the strength and quality of bark grown in New Zealand. Difficulties probably may have to bo encountered, sucli as the effect of high winds upon tho young plants, but success would amply repay any trouble or expense in finding out how best to go to work in the cultivation of this most useful, beautiful, and profitable tree. It has frequently been insisted upon by writers on agricultural matters that our farmers trust too much to one description of crop, that they carry too many eggs in one basket, often resulting in disappointment and loss, Well, here is something to stand by; no necessity jto: gather the crop if prices are not satisfactory, or if not convenient to do so, the following year it will be of improved value, both as timherand bark. A wattle plantation, while costing little, would, in five or six years, begin to make regular returns, . with the advantage of its being almost impossible to glut the market owing to the old country being always ready to absorb any, surplus, and supplies from Australia are not. likely to increase! In Victoria' the'! natural supply has been ruthlessly stripped and destroyed, no provisiojflteing made for fresh growth, becoming scarce, and alarmed and boseechingthe Government to place a duly of £3 per ton on all exported. The following extracts from the Leader (Victoria) of 18th March, 1882, will, we think," be read with interest : "Tho Tariff Commissioner reports that the supply of "Wattle Bark is rapidly decreasing, and that unless systematic cultivation 1 - of the Wattle, either by the State dr private individuals is at once commenced, three-fourths of the tanners of Victoria must close their establishments in les3 than three years," and again, "with reference to the question as to whether Wattle Rark 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 tho effect that it would prove remunerative, especially upon poor soil not calculated to give heavy returns in other directions It was shown ; th'at land that required 15 or 20 acres-to keep a sheep alive would just be profitable to the Wattle grower as„ rich pasture land to the grazier, The, estimate taken atlast time (1878)/ J it : must be remembered, was based upon the then market price of Wattle Bark, viz,,'£4 per tori; while

now tho rite; is risen to : £7 10s per ton I There is throughout the Colony in the: aggregate a, large quantity of land of the poorer sort used by the farmers as permanent pasture, and upon, such .Boil.it would pay well to establish Wattle plantations, Wattles grow in almost any soil, but their' growth is most rapid on loose sandy patches, or where the surface has been broken for agricultural or other purposes. When the ground is hard, or in its natural condition, plough furrows require to be ran for the reception of seeds; but upon soil, the surface of which has. been broken, such as old cultivation land, the seeds can be thinly sprinkled broadcast, tlie necessary thinning out to be done afterwards with the hoe, Various distances between tho Wattles are recommended, but this is a point that must be left to the judgment of tho farmer, who would require to see that the planting was not undertaken so thickly as to interfere with the pasture. By the time the Wattles are about six months old they are fit to have the stock turned in without damage to the young trees, and they are fit for stripping at from three to four years old. At four years old a good black Wattle yields an average of about 251bs bark. As barking kills the trees, annual planting should be made in order to keep up a yearly supply, Planting can take place with the early showers of Autumn or in Spring, and, us the outer covering of the seed is peculiarly tough, rendering it impervious to ordinary germinating influences, it requires before sowing to be soaked in hot water until it becomes soft, As the seeds are small, and require to be kept near the surface, a very light sprinkling of earth over them is sufficient. The Wattle is very hardy, and when it once, takes a hold, flourishes well, regardless of a drought that may be burning up surrounding vegetation."