20 ESSENTIAL OILS FROM THE 



New England through Australia Felix as far as Spencer's Gulf, is not 

 known in Tasmania, forms in open reaches park-like scenery ; but, con- 

 trary to what might have been anticipated, the quantity of oil fur- 

 nished by the leaves of this species of the Eucalyptus is not large ; the 

 two samples forwarded differ so much in this and other respects, that a 

 brief description of each will be necessary. The specific gravity of the 

 oil marked No. 1 is only 0889, and its boiling points are respectively 

 335° and 390 ; its consumption in a lamp does not give rise to quite so 

 brilliant and white a flame as that from good kerosene. The yield is 

 small, being only 5^ drachms from 100 lbs. of the fresh leaves, while in 

 the case of No. 2, a similar quantity of leaves yielded 4 ounces 1J 

 drachms. This discrepancy is not easily accounted lor, and is possibly 

 due to accidental circumstances. Both samples of oil have a pale yel- 

 lowish colour, inclining slightly to green ; they are limpid fluids, and 

 diffuse an aromatic smell in which one resembling that of camphor pre- 

 dominates. The taste is like that oljabrorum, but milder. The specific 

 gravity of the sample No. 2 of this essential oil is - 922. It boils at 

 315°, and as the evaporation proceeds the temperature rises to 356°. It 

 is acted upon by iodine in a manner similar to amygdalina. In a kero- 

 sene lamp it gives a very brilliant white light, and burns exceedingly 

 well. 



Eucalyptus Woollsii (TVoollybut). — The tree, from the leaves of which 

 this oil is distilled, has but a limited range in Victoria ; it is met with 

 in the north-eastern portion of Gipps Land, and accompanies the blood- 

 wood into New South Wales. The sample of oil submitted to the Jurors 

 exhibits the remarkable property of imparting an indelible transparent 

 stain to paper, indicating that a resin is probably held by it in solution. 

 This opinion is strengthened by the unusually high specific gravity which 

 it possesses — namely, - 940 ; and by the fact that its boiling points are 

 also much above the average, being 380° and 420° respectively. The 

 taste of this essential oil is aromatic, and cooling, with but little pun- 

 gency ; it has a fragrant camphoraceous odour, and an oily consistency. 

 The yield from 100 lbs. of leaves (those used having suffered slightly 

 from close packing) is 3 ounces 3j drachms. In a kerosene lamp this 

 fluid gives a good bright clear flame, but somewhat inferior to kerosene 

 in intensity. 



Eucalyptus rostrata (Red Gum). — Like that from the Peppermint, this 

 oil is represented by two samples, which differ chiefly in colour ; that of 

 No. 1 being pale yellow, while No. 2 is of a reddish-amber tint. In 

 smell it is hardly distinguishable from odorata, and the same may be 

 said of its taste. The yield from 100 lbs. fresh leaves of the red gum is 

 not large, as compared with many of the oils above described, amounting 

 to 1 ounce 4 J drachms. The specific gravity of this oil is 0-918 ; its boil- 

 ing point is the lowest of any, being 280°, the mercury afterwards 

 became stationary at 358°. A portion which had been rapidly evapo- 



