The crude oil had specific gravity at 15 C. = 0-9143 ; rotation a 1-95 ; 

 refractive index at 20 : 1-4679, and was soluble in ii volumes 70 per cent, 

 alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 4-5. 



On rectification, i per cent, distilled below 167 C. (corr.). Between 

 167-183, 89 per cent, distilled; between 183-224, 5 per cent, distilled. These 

 fractions gave the following results : 



First fraction, sp. gr. at 15 C. := 0-9109 ; rotation a D -- 1-2. 

 Second ,, ,, = 0-9236 ; ,, not taken. 



The cineol, determined by the phosphoric acid method in the first fraction 

 and calculated for the crude oil, was 57 per cent. (O.M.). 



The oil of this species has a strong resemblance to that obtained from 

 E. cncori folia of South Australia, although containing less aromadendral, and 

 more cineol. (See also under " Quantitative determination of cineol.") 



It was soon found that the new growth, or " suckers," as they are known 

 vernacularly, contained a larger amount of oil than occurs in the old leaves, so 

 that it was to the advantage of the distiller to obtain as much of this young 

 material as possible. The oil from the young growth also contains a less amount 

 of aromadendral, and other high-boiling constituents, than does that from old 

 leaves, and the cineol is more pronounced in consequence. It. is customary also for 

 the distiller not to treat the leaves for too long a time, as practically all the cineol 

 comes over during the first two hours, much of the high-boiling constituents 

 remaining in the leaf, consequently most commercial samples of the oil of this 

 species, as now supplied, are slightly dextro-rotatory, and if the leaves are not 

 distilled beyond ij to 2 hours, the rotation may even exceed i degree to the right. 

 This peculiarity is entirely due to the absence of sufficient aromadendral in the 

 oil to overcome the slight dextro-rotation of the pinene. 



A table giving the constants for numerous authentic samples of the oil of 

 this species, commercially distilled, will be found later in the articles published in 

 this work, where the question of constancy in the oil product, as well as methods 

 for securing fresh growth of material are dealt with. 



The rectified oil of E. polybractea is one of the best for the preparation of 

 pure cineol by the freezing method. We have made numerous analyses on the 

 oil of this species at various times, and have always found these to be in agreement. 



In the following table are recorded the results we have obtained with 

 commercial samples of the oil of this species, during the years 1918 and 1919, 

 all of which were distilled at Wyalong : 



