Dec. 1, 1864.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



THE RESINS, GUMS, ETC., OF VICTORIA. 227 



years lie will be enabled to cast aside his present sickly colourless stock, 

 and rejoice in the acquisition of a worm far healthier that ever it has 

 been since the day when it was first imported from the east by the 

 enterprising to whom we are indebted for its introduction into Europe. 



Mussooree, N.W. India. 



THE RESINS, GUMS, AND GUM-RESINS OF VICTORIA. 



Of the resins proper two representatives only, the products of indige- 

 nous trees, are at present knoAvn to exist in Victoria, namely, that from 

 the Callitris verrucosa and cupressiformis, and from the Xanthorrhcea 

 Australis. The first mentioned resin from the two trees commonly 

 known as the Desert and Mountain Cypress Pine, may be collected in 

 the northern and north-western parts of the colony in considerable 

 abundance. It exmks naturally from the bark in tears, or small pen- 

 dulous masses, and also flows from incisions made to encourage exuda- 

 tion. This substance may be described as a resin of excellent quality, 

 almost identical with the best samples of Sandaric from the Callitris 

 quadrivaluis of the Mediterranean, so largely used in the manufacture of 

 varnishes. It is a transparent, colourless, or pale yellow body, fragrant 

 and friable, fusing at a moderate heat, and burning with a large smoky 

 flame, very soluble in alcohol, and the essential oils, and almost totally 

 so in ether ; turpentine at ordinary temperatures does not act upon it, 

 nor do the drying oils, but it may be made to combine with those sol- 

 vents by previous fusion. 



The balsamic resin from the Xanthovrlicea Australis is a subject of 

 much interest. It is found in masses of irregular globular shape within 

 the body of the tree, and exuding in large tears and drops near its 

 roots. It is a dark red friable substance, the purer homogenous speci- 

 mens exhibiting a most brilliant ruby colour when crushed into frag- 

 ments ; it fuses readily with the same deep colour, and exhales the cha- 

 racteristic odour of gum benzoin and dragon's blood under such circum- 

 stances. In many respects it resembles the last-named substance, but 

 its solutions are less intensely red, inclining to yellow, while as a var- 

 nish it has much more body and gloss. When grass-tree gum is ignited 

 it burns with considerable energy, and its destructive distillation gives 

 rise to liquid as well as solid products, which have not as yet been in- 

 vestigated. It is very soluble in alcohol, and in the essential oils from 

 the Eucalypti, that from the Dandenong Peppermint (E. amygola Una) 

 proving an exception. Ether takes up a portion only, leaving behind a 

 resinous substance coloured more intensely red than that which it dis- 

 solves ; turpentine exercises no solvent action upon it, and the drying 



