92 A CONTRIBUTION TO, ETC. 



folia), another larger-leaved Myrtle with yellow flowers (Tristania 

 nereifolia), and the " Lilly Pilly" (Eugenia Smithii), are of fre- 

 quent occurrence, and the wood of them being very tough, it is 

 often made into flails, handles, &c. Our " Tea Trees," though 

 frequently despised, contain valuable properties, which hereafter 

 will be turned to good account. The bark of some species may 

 be converted into paper, and the leaves of all contain volatile oils, 

 whilst the wood of two admits of a polish and may be worked up 

 into articles of furniture. The oil extracted from the Tea Trees 

 bears a striking resemblance to the cajeput oil of commerce, has 

 a bitter and camphoraceous taste, and is followed by a cool sen- 

 sation like that produced by peppermint. The three species from 

 which the oil is procured, abound in this neighbourhood viz: 

 llnariifoUa, ericifolia, and genistifolia. " It is found that lOOlbs. 

 of fresh branchlets and leaves of the first will yield a product 

 measuring 28 fluid ounces. It presents the appearance of a very 

 light straw coloured mobile liquid, of rather a pleasant odour, 

 resembling the oil of cajeput, but less aromatic and pungent, and 

 possessed of a singularly agreeable taste in which respect it 

 differs from most of the other oils strongly suggestive of both 

 mace and nut-meg, followed by the usual mintlike after taste, 

 common in a greater or less degree to the myrtaceous oils. The 

 specific gravity is '0903, and the boiling point is 348." 

 Amongst the smaller trees of the district the " Christinas bushes" 

 are interesting, not merely for the beauty of their flowers, but in 

 one species (Ceratopetalum apetalum) for the excellency of its 

 wood, and the fragrance of its bark. This is generally called 

 " Light Wood," and is a favourite with coachmakers. Although 

 on our creeks, it is a small tree, yet in some parts of the colony 

 especially on the Blue Mountains and the Mittagong Range, it 

 attains the height of 60 feet, and affords fine timber for doors, 

 shutters, &c. It is a curious fact in the distribution of plants, 

 that whilst this species predominates on the creeks to the north 

 of Parramatta, the allied tree (Schizomeria ovata), and very 

 similar to it, grows on the Toongabbie Creek. In the same 

 locality also maybe found one of our "Native laurels" (Cryp- 

 tocarya glaucescens), which in the early days of the colony was* 

 called " Sassafras," and undoubtedly possesses medicinal proper- 

 ties. The tree now called Sassafras belongs to a different family, 



