40I 



The Brojiide. 



Dacrydene is an unsaturated terpene, and on addition of tlie bromine it 

 also gave h\-drobromic acid at the same time. When treated in a chloroform 

 solution until no more bromine was absorbed and the chloroform allowed to 

 evaporate entirely, the bromide left was quite liquid and colourless, and did not 

 decompose on standing in the air for some days. So far, no cny'stallised bromide 

 has been obtained in an}- direction. On analysis of the liquid bromide 0-4518 gram 

 gave o-68g gram AgBr, = 0-2932 Br, = 64-89 per cent. This result shows that 

 slightly more bromine than that required for a tribromide was present, and indicated 

 that the HBr formed had also become largely absorbed. Ordinary bromination 

 thus appears to act similarly as with pinene, and is not more satisfactory than 

 with that terpene. 



The ]ilETHYL Ether of Eugexol. 



The fourth fraction of the first series of distillations was oxidised with a 

 neutral solution of potassium permanganate, and finally ^^ith an acid solution, 

 considerable heat being evolved. \'\'hen cold, the product was extracted b\' ether, 

 the ether distilled oft", and a thick oil obtained which crystallised on standing. 

 The mass was then placed on a porous plate until the liquid portion had been 

 absorbed, and the cr^'stals which remained were purified from alcohol. They 

 melted at 178-179° C, which result showed the crystals to be veratric acid, and 

 they were identical with the veratric acid obtained in larger quantities from the 

 wood oil of the same tree. The presence of the meth^'l ether of eugenol in the 

 leaf oil of " Huon Pine " is thus confirmed. Eugenol itself was not detected 

 in the leaf oil. 



IV. TIMBER. 



(rt) Economic. 



The timber has a fairlv strong aroma, due to the presence of an essential 

 oil, which has been investigated (;infra). There can be little doubt that the 

 durability of the timber is o\\ing to the presence of this oil. 



The timber is light in colour, toning down to a dull yellow on exposure; 

 it is easy to work, straight grained, but onh' occasionalh' possesses a figure, and 

 is suitable for cabinet work, panelling, fancy boxes, and interior decoration, carving, 

 &c. It also takes a good polish. Some specimens are of rare beauty, equalling 

 bird's-eye maple. ~ ' ■ " 



It is a fairly hea-yy wood, but is short in the grain. 



2C 



