ESSENTIAL OIL OF EUCALYPTUS SMITHII. 159 



ance in the preparation of this paper, and to Mr. D. E. 

 Chalker of Hill Top, who has distilled Eucalyptus oil from 

 this species for the last ten years. He has given me much 

 information respecting the growth of the species, and pro- 

 vided some of the material for distillation. 



Rapidity of Growth and Reproduction. 

 The growth of Eucalyptus Smithii, under natural con- 

 ditions of soil and climate, is considerable, and is more 

 rapid with the so-called "suckers," or new growths which 

 spring from the stumps of the felled mature trees, than 

 with plants grown from seed, although with the seedlings 

 the increase in height usually averages, for the first year 

 or two, from six inches to a foot per month. As the leaves 

 are alone required for oil distillation it is apparent that 

 the method which will produce the greatest crop of leaves 

 in the shortest time is the one to adopt; and in this respect 

 the felling of the trees gives by far the best results. It was 

 thought at one time that better results could be obtained 

 if the branches were lopped from the trunks of the trees, 

 but this idea has been shown to be fallacious. Consider- 

 able advantage is also derived when the trees are felled as 

 the leaves are gathered from shrubby growths instead of 

 from tall trees, and as labour in Australia is costly, this is, 

 of course, a matter of some importance. The men, too, are 

 greatly adverse to climbing the trees for the purpose of 

 lopping off the branches, while the increased danger to the 

 men by this method of working is also a matter for some 

 consideration. 



The vitality shown by this species is remarkable and the 

 trees may be lopped repeatedly without destruction, and 

 the branchlets removed again and again as the leaves are 

 required for distillation, the reproduction appearing to be 

 continuous over a long period of years. 



