PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION B, 117 



which to many families has been found exceedingly profitable ; and, 

 with judicious expansion, the area of usefulness in this direction would 

 undoubtedly be extended. 



During the last fifteen or twenty years much work has been under- 

 taken in determining the possibilities of the several species of eucalyptus, 

 so that the economics of a very large number of species are now Imown. 

 One is thus in a position to indicate in what direction it appears most 

 advisable to proceed, so that the greatest returns may be derived 

 from the systematic utilization of those species which show the greatest 

 promise. It is now a recognised fact that the chemical products of 

 each species of eucalyptus are comparatively constant, no matter 

 where the trees are gro^vn, so that the propagation and cultivation of 

 the best species can be undertaken with the assitrance that the products 

 derived from indicated species will be of the nature and constitution 

 demanded. From the scientific side the importance of this factor of 

 chemical constancy cannot be ignored, and each species may be 

 considered as a distinct factory wherein definite chemical substances 

 are produced. 



The value of certain eucalypts for timber is now being recognised 

 by the people of America and of other countries, and it is only a question 

 of time when the economics of the genus in other directions will 

 command attention in those countries also. It would not be creditable 

 to us if the preparation of what may be considered the by-products 

 of the genus were industrially successful there, while we continued to 

 neglect our opportunities. It is, however, pleasing to know that 

 gentlemen in Melbourne are taking up this question, and already small 

 plantations have been started. The time is evidently approaching 

 when that feeling of contempt for the " old gum tree," which is so 

 pronounced with the average Australian, will be modified, and, let us 

 hope, changed into one of reverence, or at least of favorable considera- 

 tion. 



At the present time the most important, perhaps, of the minor 

 products of the eucalypts is the essential oil contained in their leaves ; 

 and, as the composition of this varies so largely in the several species, 

 it \vill be desirable to consider the industrial aspect of this product 

 from various stand-points. 



The question is often asked by distillers, and those who purpose 

 embarking in the industry, whether the demand for the eucalyptus 

 oils of the phellandrene class is likely to keep up ; and, on the other 

 hand, by prospective users of the oil, whether supplies can be assured. 

 In these days of scientific activity it is not possible to say how 

 long any particular method of working will maintain, and any branch 

 of industry is continually in danger of being supplanted by one more 

 economical or more efiicacious. The two main factors in this con- 

 nexion are efficacy and cheapness. Certain kinds of eucalyptus oils 



