6o Field Naturalists' Club — Pvoceedings. [^Aiio-u^r^' 



name gum-tree was somewhat unfortunate, as tlie exudation from 

 which the trees first derived their name was a kino, more closely 

 related to a resin than a gum. The scientific name first proposed 

 for the genus was Aromadendron, which referred to the odour 

 given off by the leaves, the name Eucalyptus referring to the 

 operculum or covering of the flower buds. This characteristic 

 distinguished the genus from the allied genus Angophora, which 

 has no operculum. It was somewhat remarkable that with the 

 exception of one or two species found in New Guinea and the 

 Malaysian islands eucalypts were not found in any other part of 

 the world than Australia, and here it was the prevaiHng genus 

 from north to south or east to west, with the exception of a 

 comparatively narrow area extending from Spencer's Gulf to the 

 Gulf of Carpentaria, which geologists tell us is the dried-up bed 

 of an ancient sea. It was also noticeable that the smaller species 

 inhabited the inland districts, while the more robust species grew 

 nearer the coast. The hardiness of many species was quite 

 remarkable. Thus E. Daiosoni, Slaty Gum — one of the most useful 

 timber trees we have — did best on dry, barren ridges where nothing 

 "else would grow. Hence it was a tree that should be encouraged 

 wherever possible. In the early days the different species 

 received their names from the characteristics they appeared to 

 possess to the ordinary man. Thus E. piperita, the Peppermint 

 Gum, received its nan^e from the supposed resemblance of its 

 odour to the herb peppermint, and analysis of the oil showed 

 that the first guess was correct. Of what use the oil was to the 

 tree had long been a puzzle, but he advanced the theory that by 

 means of its oil the tree was able to resist droughts. This might 

 seem rather a far-fetched idea, but a little consideration would 

 show that there seemed to be some ground for the idea. It 

 might have been noticed by those who have been out among the 

 trees in hot weather that the odour of the leaves was then very 

 perceptible, and he thought that there was a sufficient oily 

 aromatic exhalation from the leaves on such an occasion as to 

 prevent the rapid evaporation of moisture, hence the tree was 

 able to resist droughts to a greater extent than many other genera. 

 Without doubt the oil industry was only in its infancy. Great 

 credit was due to the late Mr. J. Bosisto, C.M.G., for his 

 persistent efforts in placing eucalyptus oil before the medical 

 profession, but the amount of oil used in that way could never 

 ijecome a serious item. It was when it came to be used in 

 industrial projects that the demand would spring up, and, what- 

 ever the demand, there would always be a ready response. The 

 eucalyptus tree was very different to most other kinds of vegeta- 

 tion. If cut down it grew again, and in the course of a few years 

 was again ready for cutting. A pine tree when cut down was 

 killed and must be replaced. Then its rapidity of growth was 

 unequalled by any other tree. A gum of 24 years' growth would 



