522 K. T. BAKER AND H. G. SMITH. 



had specific gravity e 938; rotation a D = + 0*6; refractive 

 index = 1*4861. 



The cineol was determined by the resorcinol method in 

 the first fraction, and calculated for the whole oil, the 

 result showed the crude oil to contain 70% of that constitu- 

 ent. The higher fraction contained a little piperitone (the 

 constituent of peppermint odour), a small amount of ester, 

 and some free alcohol. The saponification number for the 

 esters plus free acid in the crude oil by boiling was 8*9. A 

 portion of the crude oil was acetylated in the usual manner, 

 when the saponification number had risen to 51*3. This 

 result indicates the presence of an alcohol in fair quantity, 

 to which constituent the aromatic and somewhat charac- 

 teristic odour of the oil is evidently largely due. The 

 presence of this alcohol is more distinctly shown with the 

 second and third hour oils, which were distilled and collected 

 for us by Mr. Gough, of Yourie. 



First Hour Oil. 



As previously mentioned, the commercial distillation of 

 this species has resolved itself into a fractional separation 

 during the primary distillation of the oil from the leaf. 



The first hour oil is practically water-white, as are all 

 the rectified oils of this group; it is rich in cineol, of good 

 odour, and is fairly constant in composition, as can be seen 

 from the following tabulated results. The average specific 

 gravity of the first hour oil taken by Mr. McGrath at his 

 works for twenty-six distillations during the months of 

 September and October was 0*919, the highest being 0*920, 

 the lowest 0*917. 



The following analyses were made at the Technological 

 Museum on the first hour oil of this species. The dates of 

 distillation, the distillers, and the various localities are 

 given. Nerrigundah, Yourie, and Reedy Creek are all situ- 

 ated in the south-eastern portion of New South Wales, 

 between the Moruya and Oobargo districts. 



