44 6 



Most Eucalypts are very tenacious of life, and new growth soon 

 springs from the stumps of the trees cut down, so that it is only a matter of a 

 comparatively short period before fresh material is again available, and usually 

 in greater abundance than was the case originally. Instances of this rapid 

 reproduction may be seen from the illustrations already given in this work. 



We have previously shown that the oil obtainable from this young growth 

 is of the same character as that from the mature leaves, so that little difference 

 in the quality of the oil will be observed. If then the areas be sufficiently 

 extensive, the supply of material for oil distillation will be continuous, and a 

 permanent plant an advantage if security of occupation is assured. 

 Considerations respecting the continuity of supply of leaf material and of 

 cultivation have been dealt with in a previous article. 



EUCALYPTUS OIL DISTILLING PLANTS AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION. 



In the smaller distilling plants, in New South Wales particularly, it has 

 become customary to generate the steam in the vessel in which the leaves are 

 packed. A very general method is to employ one or more of the common 

 square 4OO-gallon iron tanks, to insert a grating of some kind at about 8 inches 

 from the bottom to support the leaves, and to fill the space below with water. 

 The tanks are placed upon a suitable foundation and the fires lighted below. 

 When the water boils the steam passes through the leaves, carrying the oil with 

 it. The condenser and still attachments take various forms, but all are 

 constructed with some regaid to the main principles of condensation. In the 

 more simply constructed plants, particularly in localities where water is 

 abundant, the condensation is brought about by laying a sufficient length of pipe 

 from the still, in a running stream if possible, bending the end of the pipe 

 outwards through some protection, and collecting the condensed water and oil 

 in a receiver in which the oil separates, and is drawn off either automatically 

 or otherwise. 



In simple distilling plants of this nature no provision is usually made for 

 unloading the spent leaves by mechanical means, this operation being performed 

 by manual labour, so that, with a still of this description, it is evident that a 

 minimum of result is obtained with a maximum of effort ; but this primitive 

 method of distillation will continue to be employed because the plant is cheap, 

 easily dismantled for removal, and can be worked by one or two men, 

 by families, or by small communities. 



The lid attachments to these tank stills arc made in various ways, the 

 most common being to remove the top, and rivet a right-angled flange around 

 the outside. The lid is a flat sheet of iron, and between this and the flat 

 surface of the flange the joint is made, by inserting packing of some sort, either 

 with clay or without, and fastening the whole with stout steel clips. Another 

 method is to have the flange turned inwards, and to fasten stirrups on the 

 outside of the tank. The lid is a flat sheet of iron in this case also, and 

 the joint made steam-tight in the usual way and fastened tightly by the 

 aid of wedges. 



It was considered at one time that the correct arrangement for a 

 Eucalyptus oil still must include a copper still-head, to allow of easy exit of the 

 steam from the tank to the condenser, but in the majority of cases this copper 

 outlet is now discarded, as it was found to te unnecessary and costly. It 

 must be remembered, too, that in nearly every case Eucalyptus oils contain free 

 acid, and this, when present in sufficient amount, attacks the copper, the 

 dissolved portion being conveyed into the oil, giving it a green colour. How 



