BY J. H. MAIDEN. 137 



Santalum cygnorum, Miq. (Syn. Fusanus spicatus, R.Br.). 

 Sandalwood oil from Western Australia. 



It does not appear to be easy to obtain full particulars of the com- 

 merce in sandalwood and its products, which form no insignificant 

 item in the trade of the western colony. My interest in the matter 

 has been re-awakened by observing in the Sydney newspapers of 

 September last a telegram from Perth, W.A., to the effect that 

 " The newly-established Distillery Company, a short distance from 

 Albany, shipped the first instalment of 20 cases of sandalwood oil 

 to England." The resinous-smelling West Australian sandalwood 

 (pronounced by Schimmel & Co. to be quite unsuitable to European 

 requirements) goes to Singapore and China, to be burned as incense 

 in Buddhist temples, and, doubtless, Malays and Chinese have 

 exploited Western Australian sandalwood for centuries. Western 

 Australia exported in 1889 to Singapore and China 4470 tons, of 

 the value of £33,525. 



As to the oil, I have received no reply from the Distillery 

 Company in respect to it, nor have I observed any account of its 

 reception in the London and Continental markets.'*' 



SUBSTANCE REPUTED MEDICINAL. 



Verbena officinalis. Linn. N.O. VerbenaceaB. 



I have received this plant from the north-west of this colony 

 with an iutimation that it is employed by the blacks in venereal 

 complaints. 



TIMBERS. 



I give brief notes on the following timbers, which have not, so 

 far as I am aware, been previously described. 



* Since the above was written I have obtained, by the roundabout way 

 of London and Leipzig (Chemist and Druggist, and Schimmel and Co.), a 

 few particulars concerning this oil. Its specific gravity is variously stated 

 at "953 and *962 ; its odour as " much more fragrant than the Madras 

 kind " and " sharp." Its colour is pale straw. 



