134 



are a little oblique, acuminate, nearly ovate, occasionally nearly circular, and then 

 pass through all gradations up to ovate lanceolate. — (Proc. Aust. Ass. for Adv. of 

 Science, vii, 538.) 



Mature Leciyes. — Coriaceous, yet often succulent, and hence eaten by stock. 

 They are comparatively large, 6 inches being a common length, while 5 inches is, 

 perhaps, under the average. The width is usually about 1^ inch. They are usually 

 shiny, but in the coldest districts often glaucous. The venation is as stated under 

 stellulata, and in this respect not only shows affinity with that species, but also with 

 regnans and allied species. Besides cattle, opossums have a predilection for the 

 young foliage of this tree, so that they often kill trees of this species. 



Mr. P. B. Guthrie (Agric. Gazette, Oct., 1899) has analysed the leaves, with 

 the view to ascertain their value for feeding stock, and following is his analysis : — 



"Cattle Gum" ... 



Water. 



Ash. 



Fibre. 



Ether 



Extract 



(Oil, &c). 



Albumen- 

 oids. 



Carbo- 

 hydrates. 



Nutrient 

 Value. 



Albu- 



menoid 



ratio. 



Tannin 

 (Oak Bark). 



36-76 



2-90 • 



8-57 



6-02 



8-75 



37-00 



59 



1:5| 



1-5 



As regards the oil obtained from the leaves, I have three authenticated 

 analyses before me. No. 1 is from Messrs. Baker and Smith's " Research on the 

 Eucalypts," and Nos. 2 and 3 are by W. B. Wilkinson.* 



Sp. gravity 

 at 15° C. 



Sp. rotation, 

 [<i]d 



Saponification 

 number. 



Solubility in 

 Alcohol. 



Constituents found. 



1. 0-8947 



2. -8943 



3. -9200 



-32-8 



+ 16-7 

 + 6-0 



462 



1 vol. 80% 



Phellandrene, peppermint 

 ketone, eucalyptol, ses- 

 quiterpene. 



No phellandrene. 



Do. 











Mr. Wilkinson also gives columns " Refractive index " and " Specific 

 refractive energy." 



It is remarkable how these analyses vary. My view is that we require 

 hundreds of analyses of the oils of each species, taken under circumstances as 

 different as possible, before we shall be able to make accurate generalisations in 

 regard to them. These should be made in all the States, just as the material for 

 botanical diagnosis is obtained over areas as wide as possible. 



Timber. — Pale coloured, full of gum-veins ; warps a good deal. Some 

 notes on the timber will be found under " Range." 



* Preliminary survey of Eucalyptus Oils in Victoria. — (Proc. Boy. Soc, Vic. VI. (New Series), 197-8, 1894). 



