THE TECHNOLOGIST. [April 1, 1865. 



400 THE COMMERCIAL USES OP FLOWERS AND PLANTS. 



Vanilla is the bean of a beautiful creeper ( Vanilla planifolia) which 

 is a native of Mexico, but has lately been introduced in the French 

 island of Reunion, where it thrives admirably. Tbis colony now yields 

 annually more than 12,000 lbs. of the costly perfume, and among the 

 many beautiful specimens shown at the last Exhibition, nine were 

 deemed worthy of medals or honourable mention. A sort of bastard 

 vanilla, called vanilloes, is obtained from the Vanilla Pumpona, which 

 is found in the "West Indies and Guiana. 



This closes the list of materials used hitherto by perfumers ; but 

 there are many other fragrant treasures dispersed all over the globe, 

 which, from want of communication or difficulty of extraction, have 

 not yet found their way to their laboratories, but may do so at some 

 future time. 



In Australia there are many trees with fragrant leaves, and princi- 

 pally the Tasmanian peppermint (Eucalyptus amygdalina), the pepper- 

 mint tree (Eucalyptus odorata), the blue gum tree (Eucalyptus globulus), 

 &c. Essential oils distilled from these leaves were shown at the last 

 Exhibition ; and, although described in the catalogue as only fit for 

 painting purposes, I expressed an opinion that they might be rendered 

 available for perfumery. An experiment which I made with the oil of 

 Eucalyptus amygdalina (possessing a strange flavour of nutmegs com- 

 bined with peppermint) confirmed me in that idea, and I am pleased 

 to find that colonists have turned their attention to the subject, and 

 are now sending these oils to our market. The wattle flower is also 

 very abundant in -those parts ; and, as it closely rese'mbles the cassie in 

 fragrance, it might be turned to good account. I received not long 

 since from Tasmania a specimen of pomade made from the flowers of 

 the silver-wattle (Acacia dealbata), but it was very inferior, owing to 

 the want of experience of the operator. New South Wales and Queens- 

 land produce myall-wood (Acacia homophylla), which has an intense 

 and delightful smell of violets, a very scarce odour in nature. 



Among other novel odorous products shown at the Exhibition I may 

 mention Alyxia aromatica, a fragrant bark from Cochin China ; another 

 bark from New Caledonia called Ocotea aromatica; and a highly- 

 scented wood (Licaria odorata) from French Guiana which has a strong 

 flavour of bergamot. 



