278 CINNAMOMUMS OF NEW SOUTH WALES, 



^ inch thick, and aromatic, — particularly so when fractured. It 

 was ground in a bark mill, and without any salt water maceration, 

 placed in trays that permitted a free play of steam both above and 

 below: the layer of bark was about 2 inches, a deeper layer not 

 being so satisfactory in its yield of oil. It was then placed 

 in the still and subjected to a steam distillation of 30 lbs. 

 pressure in the boiler and 5 lbs. in the still. The distilled water 

 was white and milky in appearance, the oil not separating freely, 

 its specitic gravity of course accounting for this. The first por- 

 tion of the oil that came over floated on the top of the w^ater, 

 the second sinking to the bottom; the whole of the water being 

 permeated with suspended globules of oil. Our receivers were 

 much too shallow for this specitic purpose, but if a deep receiver 

 were used and fitted with a proper arrangement of taps, a return 

 of over 1 per cent, could be easily obtained. 



The first distillation (7th and 8th July, 1897) was made on 

 84 lbs. of ground bark, yielding 11^ ozs. of oil or -85 per cent. 



Second distillation (13th July, 1897), weight of bark 84 bis., 

 yielding 13^ ozs. of oil, or 1"005 per cent. 



Third distillation (15th July, 1897), weight of bark 120 lbs., 

 yielding 14g ozs. of oil, or -75 per cent. 



Total quantity of bark 288 lbs., giving a yield of 39^ ozs. of 

 oil, or -86 per cent. 



As the oil contained impurities such as dirt and particles of 

 bark, &c., it was strained first through a piece of calico and then 

 through a filter pajDer, by which means I obtained a clear 

 light golden-coloured oil with a tinge of green, and possessing a 

 delicious odour. 



The following chemical research on this oil was next under- 

 taken by Mr. Henry G. Smith, F.C.S., Chemist of this Museum: — 



The oil obtained in the three distillations gave the following 

 results, severally and when mixed together : — 



Specific gravity— The oil of the first distillation = 1-0011 © 16° C 



„ ,, second „ = 1-0012 @ „ 



„ third „ =1-0010® „ 



