1" 



modern methods of scientific cultivation it might be possible to bring about 

 increased production of oil in the leaves, and thus secure a greater yield of oil 

 than is obtainable from the leaves oi mature trees at the present time. 

 The establishment of a " turpentine " distilling industrj in Australia from the 

 Eucalypts mighl thus be made possible. A point in its favour is that the 

 crop of leaves would be constant and the trees not killed as obtains in America. 



The sources of supply oi commercial turpentine have lor a long time been 

 slowly decreasing, while the demand has, at the same time, risen greatly. The 

 supply ot " turpentine " in the United States is slowly being exhausted, and 

 statistics show that the demand has increased over go per cent, during very 

 recent years. rhe question is thus of considerable commercial importance, not 

 only to Australia but to the world generally. 



To meet this demand it should be possible to procure quickly and 

 continually supplies from plants of the pinene yielding Eucalypts grown from 

 seed, and systematically treated similarly to other crops. Probably four to five 

 years would be ample to produce a sufficient growth of leaf, and the oil from 

 this young material would agree in composition with that obtained from the 

 leaves of older trees, while generally the yield would be greater. In comparison 

 with the slow growth of Coniferous trees for " turpentine " production, the 

 advantage is altogether with the Eucalypts. 



.Mature trees of E. dcxtropinca have already yielded us i per cent, 

 of oil, over go per cent, of which corresponded to ordinary turpentine. Tin- 

 residues from the rectified oil would also be of value, particularly as a con- 

 siderable proportion consists of geranyl-acetate and free geraniol. 



Although it would hardly pay to undertake the manufacture of 

 " turpentine " from mature trees of these two species, as they grow to a large 

 size, yet, if they were cultivated it should be possible to produce turpentine 

 i heaper than it is now being landed from America. 



It appears, therefore, that it is to the Eucalypts that we must look to 

 provide the necessary supplies of turpentine in the future. (See also the article 

 on the Pinenes of Eucalyptus Oils.) 



Phellandrene in Eucalyptus Oils. 



This terpene is somewhat extensively distributed in the oils of certain groups of 

 Eucalypts, being more pronounced in those belonging to the more recent end 

 of the genus, and to occur more abundantly in those species common to the 

 Eastern and South-eastern portion "I the Continent, and Tasmania. 



It is a somewhat uncertain terpene, as it can only be detected in the oils 

 o! some species when these are distilled at particular times oi the year, being 

 apparently absent at other periods. This peculiarity is speciall} noticeable 

 with those species which are apparent!} on the holder hue, as it were, of 

 phellandrene production, as lor instance with some of the " Boxes," and species 

 closelv associated with these. 



