1 66 R. T. BAKER AND H. G. SMITH. 



obtained leaves from the same bushes that had previously been 

 clipped for distillation six months before. The oil obtained was 

 the same in colour and constituents, but the yield was slightly 

 greater, and with careful growing and clipping not less than -5 

 per cent, of oil would certainly be obtainable, as in one distillation 

 we obtained '456 per cent, of oil and *436 per cent, in another. 

 Of course the yield of oil depends upon the amount of leaves taken 

 in proportion to the stem ; the oil is obtained from the leaves of 

 the plant, and as the leaves are very small, this is the more 

 important. Six distillations on material when flowers were 

 present gave a yield of oil equal to -31 per cent, as a mean, while 

 five distillations in March, when the plant is not in flower, gave 

 •314 per cent, as a mean yield of oil, so that the yield was actually 

 greater when the plant is not in flower. We thus conclude that 

 the yield of oil is practically the same throughout the whole year, 

 and that it differs little in composition at any time, the average 

 content of geranyl-acetate being about 60 per cent. The oil from 

 the November distillation contained 65 per cent, of geranyl- 

 acetate ; this is the time of year when in the neighbourhood of 

 Sydney the vegetation is most vigorous. 



These results in regard to the yield and composition of the oil 

 of Darwinia fascicularis are the more important when taken in 

 conjunction with the oil from D. taxifolia, as this oil contains but 

 just over five per cent, of an ethereal salt calculated as geranyl- 

 acetate, and its value is poor when compared with the oil from D. 

 fascicularis. 



When the crude oil of D . fascicularis was treated with boiling 

 alcoholic potash to saponify the ester, and the regenerated oil 

 distilled under atmospheric pressure, very erratic results were 

 obtained, and it is evident that decomposition or rather alteration 

 takes place under this treatment. Three distillations each of 100 cc. 

 of the saponified oil under different treatment with boiling alcoholic 

 potash gave results as follows : — In the first 54 per cent, distilled 

 between 190° and 195° under ordinary pressure, and 28 per cent, 

 between 225° and 260°. In the second only 3 per cent, came over 



