178 H. G. SMITH. 



marked on the freshly cut edges, and when coarsely ground 

 for distillation had a very pleasant odour. 



The yield of oil by steam distillation from this ground 

 bark was somewhat disappointing, as it did not exceed 

 that obtainable from the mature leaves; but the statement 

 has been made that at certain times of the year, the yield 

 of oil is much greater than that obtainable from the leaves 

 at the same period. 



The analyses of the oil from the bark show it to be 

 identical in composition with that obtainable from the 

 leaves, so that no separation need be made for commercial 

 purposes. With trees of fair size it should be profitable to 

 steam distil the bark for its oil, that is, if it be considered 

 necessary to cut down the trees in the process of manu- 

 facture. The production of "suckers" from the stumps of 

 the felled trees is somewhat rapid, so that a fresh supply 

 of leaves would soon be available, and an excellent oil is 

 obtainable from this young foliaceous growth. 



Experimental. 



The bark, which was stripped in November 1915, was 

 chopped into small pieces and coarsely ground in a mill. It 

 was then steam distilled. The yield of oil was equal to 

 0*12 per cent. 



The crude oil was of a light amber colour and had a very 

 marked odour of geranyl-acetate, and in this, as well as in 

 other respects, was in agreement with the leaf oil. The 

 orude oil had the following characters: — 



Specific gravity at 15° 0. = 0*9214 

 Optical Rotation o» = ■+ 1*2° 

 Refractive index at 20° C. = 1*4718 

 Soluble in 1*2 volumes 70 per cent, alcohol. 



The optical activity of the oil is due to the presence of 

 n small quantity of dextrorotatory pinene. The stearoptene 



