605 



distilled from the timber of "Huon Pine," Daci-i/dium 

 h'mnklini, is also largely methyl-eugenol, and this has later 

 been confirmed by Schimmel & Co., Semi-annual Report, 

 Oct. 1910. But the scarcity of that tree, its value for 

 joinery work, and the difficulty of preparation for distillation 

 makes its use in this direction, in comparison with the 

 leaves of this Melaleuca, of secondary importance. 



Experimental.— The material was collected at Oakey 

 Greek, via Warialda, New England, New South Wales, on 

 the 14th March, the 12th May, and the 14th July, 1908. 

 The leaves and terminal branchlets alone were used. In 

 the first instance 181 lbs. of material gave 26 ounces of oil, 

 equal to 0'898;'; with the May sample 360 lbs. of material 

 gave 37 ounces of oil, equal to 0'643i; while the third dis- 

 tillation gave 60 ounces of oil from 389 lbs. of material, 

 equal to 0'964>. There was a preponderance of the woody 

 branches in the May material, which accounts mostly for 

 the lower yield. It may thus \>v ronsidered that when dis- 

 tilled commercially, and the material collected with a 

 minimum amount of woody branchlets, more than one per 

 cent, of oil should be obtained from the leaves of this species 

 of Melaleuca. The oil being heavier than water it natur- 

 ally accumulates at the bottom of the distilled water in 

 the receptacle, if sufficient time is allowed for the purpose; 

 it can then be separated without difficulty. 



The oil when first obtained was of a light amber colour, 

 but it darkened somewhat on keeping in the light, due 

 perhaps to the presence of the phenol. The odour of the 

 oil is pleasant and somewhat aromatic, with a strong 

 resemblance to that of methyl-eugenol, and with an indica- 

 tion of cloves later. The general results with the three 

 samples of crude oil were as follows : — 



