86 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE. — 1915. 



cular volume measurements, it appears that throughout the series of 

 salts the morphological alteration in the passage from the benzene- 

 sulphonate to the other salts falls on the axial ratio a : b, the ratio c : b 

 being scarcely altered. 



This unexpected result is being followed up. 



Plant Products of Victoria. — Interim Report of the Committee, 

 consisting of Professor Orme Masson (Chairman), Dr. Hebeu 

 Green (Secretary), Mr. J, Cronin, and Mr. P. E. H. 

 St. John, charged with the Chemical Investigation of Natural 

 Plant Products of Victoria. 



The work of the Committee has .so far been devoted to the study of the 

 essential oils of native shnabs and trees, and has been carried out partly 

 in the laboratory and paiily in the field. 



(1) An experimental still and a new pattern of condenser have been 

 designed and constructed for the distillation of the essential oil from 

 foliage. 



They will take a charge of over one hundredweight of leaves and 

 are specially adapted for the experimental requirements in the bush. 



(2) A new pattern of standard flask has been devised and con- 

 structed of fused quartz for quantitative fractional distillation of oils in 

 the laboratory. 



It is proposed to investigate the applicability of electric heating in 

 connection with this apparatus. 



(3) Samples (generally of several hundredweight lots) of important 

 native oil-bearing plants have been collected from various parts of 

 Victoria, partly by taking special trips and bringing sacks of foliage to 

 Melbourne, and also by taking the still into the bush, where a camp was 

 made for about a month and the oils distilled from the plants in their 

 native habitat. 



In this way reliable material has been obtained for about twenty 

 species, and although two research assistants engaged in the work have 

 received other appointments, the investigation of these oils is being 

 proceeded with in the laboratory. 



(4) Investigations have been completed with regard to two oils, 

 and the results are about to be communicated to the Eoyal Society of 

 Victoria for pubHcation. 



In the case of several others the results will soon be completed, 

 whilst for some species more material is required. 



(5) Of the 501. granted to the Committee by the Association and 

 paid over to its Chairman last year, 24Z. has been spent up to the 

 present. It is proposed to expend the balance on further apparatus 

 and chemicals. 



The Committee has the honour to apply for reappointment, as the 

 work is being continued. 



