DARWINIAS OF PORT JACKSON AND THEIR ESSENTIAL OILS. 175 



having a formula C 10 H 18 O there was 7*9 percent, of alcohol present 

 in the free condition in this oil. The bromide obtained from the 

 first fraction was liquid. 



The commercial prospects of this oil, in comparison with that 

 from D. fascicularis, being poor, no further investigation of its 

 remaining constituents was undertaken. 



The yield of oil from D. taxifolia is almost identical with that 

 from D. fascicularis, being 313 per cent. The crude oil is much 

 lighter in colour than that from D. fascicularis. The crude oil 

 did not form a clear solution with two volumes of 90 per cent, 

 alcohol. 



(c) Possibilities of Cultivation. 



As these species do not present any very marked horticultural 

 attractions they have received little or no attention from gardeners 

 and are therefore only known in the wild state, and so very 

 little data can be given under this heading. However, as D. 

 fascicularis has such good commercial possibilities it is hoped 

 that experiments will be taken up at once in regard to it. 



The seeds are exceedingly small and apparently difficult to 

 obtain, but they must be numerous, and with ordinary care and 

 application they could be easily collected. From a few experi- 

 ments made with plants of D. fascicularis, this species survives 

 transplanting very well. This species is peculiar to the Hawkes- 

 bury Sandstone country, so that it will grow in very poor soil, and 

 is evidently able to survive the severest drought, as during 

 the last four years the rainfall has been almost the lowest on 

 record, and yet the shrubs at La Perouse have been in no way 

 affected^by it. 



Like most of our indigenous plants it is an evergreen, so that 

 its leaves could be distilled irrespective of the season. Plants at 

 La Perouse from which all our material was obtained are all in 

 vigorous health, and have sent forth new growth soon after clipping. 

 In no instance were the trees cut down or uprooted, but only the 

 terminal branchlets cut off. 



