OCCURRENCE OF CALCIUM OXALATE IN EUCALYPTUS BARKS. 23 



On the OCCURRENCE op CALCIUM OXALATE in 

 the BARKS of the EUCALYPTS. 



By Henry G. Smith, f.c.s., Assistant Curator, 

 Technological Museum, Sydney. 



[With Plate I.] 



[Read before the Royal Society of N. 8. Wales, May 3, 1905^] 



The present inquiry is the outcome of an investigation of 

 four West Australian Eucalyptus barks, to determine their 

 value for tanning purposes. The results, which are pub- 

 lished in the April number of the Agricultural Journal of 

 that State, were from the following species: — "Salmon 

 Gum" (Eucalyptus salmonophloia), "Gimlet" (E. salubris), 

 "Mallet" (E. occidentalis), "White Gum" (E. redunca). 



The results, particularly those from E. salmonophloia 

 and from E. salubris, were such that it was considered 

 desirable to proceed further, and it was thought that by 

 investigating the barks of the Mallees of New South Wales, 

 information might probably be obtained, not only as regards 

 their tanning value, but which would also help towards 

 elucidating some of the problems connected with these 

 dwarf species of Eucalyptus, and which form such a pro- 

 nounced feature in many parts of Australia. 



The Eucalypts are, generally speaking, forest trees, and 

 often reach large proportions both in height and in circum- 

 ference, and the prevalence of these dwarf forms, which 

 resemble other species in their morphological characters, 

 is, therefore, somewhat remarkable, and the new facts 

 which have been brought to light during this investigation 

 may assist, perhaps, in their deeper study. The barks of 

 the following Mallees, growing in New South Wales, were 



