444 



One advantage to be derived from material so grown would be the 

 uniformity in the character of the oil produced, as the mixing of leaves from 

 other species would be avoided. 



TABLE OF ANALYSES OF THE CRUDE OILS OF CULTIVATED MATERIAL OF 



EUCALYPTUS SMITHII. 



Extraction of Eucalyptus Oil in Australia 



EUCALYPTUS oil can be distilled from the leaves without difficulty by a simple 

 method of steam distillation, together with a satisfactory condensing arrange- 

 ment, and this procedure alone is sufficient for the preparation of the crude 

 product. In the still erected for our own use the steam was generated in a 

 separate boiler, and passed into the digester in which the leaves were packed, 

 the pressure of steam in the chamber not usually exceeding 10 pounds at any 

 time. Condensation was assured, so that the total oil obtainable from the leaves 

 of the species was secured. The material was carefully weighed before being 

 placed in the digester, and the weight of the oil determined to the nearest 

 half-ounce. The leaves and terminal branchlets were used in all instances as 

 would be done if collected for commercial distillation. 



A first consideration from the oil distillers' point of view is the water 

 supply. In the mountain ranges where the " Peppermint " Eucalyptus species 

 abound, water is fairly abundant, but in the " Mallee " country this is not so, 

 and the question of water for distillation becomes of considerable importance, 

 the annual rainfall over the ' Mallee " country being between 10 and 20 

 inches. Fortunately the water-holding capacity of the ground in the "Mallee" 

 country is very good, so that it is not difficult to store the rain water by the 

 erection of dams. This method of conserving the water in quantity is shown in 



