310 
THE TROPICAL AURIC CJLTFRIST. [Nov. 1, 1902, 
tuentg of the oil ; and from E, aggregata, Deano & 
Maiden, in bark, fruit oil and habitat. 
Its specific characters differentiate it from any of 
the other smooth-barked species. Of the rough- 
barked Eucalypts its fruits are often not unlike 
those of E. fastigata, Deane & Maiden, and E. 
iSmifhii, Baker. 
The specific name refers to the copious exudation of 
a milky substance from the stem when the tree is cut 
at certain seasons of the year* 
TiMBEB. — A very pale-coloured, whitish timber, 
fissile, only used for fuel, much softer than that of 
jS hcemastoma. 
Oil.— The yield of oil was '541 It is not a com- 
mercial oil at present, as it contains but a very small 
quantity of eucalyptol. No phellandrene is present. 
The specific gravity of the crude oil was '8826 at 
15° O. ; of the rectified oil -8788. 
The crude oil has no rotation, while the rectified oil 
had a rotation of 1° in a 100 mm. tube. 
A sample of oil from this species, obtained from 
Charley's Forest Braidwood, was almost identical 
with that from Ilford in constituents and physical 
characters (H. G- Smith). 
EuCALTprus poLYBBAcrEA, sp. nov. 
Blue Mallee." 
(Plate xlvi., figs. 7-8) 
A glaucous Mallee, with quadrangular branchlets. 
Leaves lanceolate (those on the early shoots 
lanceolate to oblanceolatej .erect, rarely falcate, not 
oblique ; narrow, under 6 lines broad, mostly 3 inches 
long, acuminate, often with a recurved point ; 
midrib raised on the underside, giving a leaf strong 
resemblance to that of an Olea not shining ; iutra- 
marginal vein removed from tlie edge, lateral veins 
oblique, spreading, finely marked, only occasionally 
distinctly pronounced ; petiole about 3 lines long. 
Oil glands very numerous. 
Peduncles axillary, short 2-3 lines long, angled, 
with from 8-12 flowers. Buds in the early stage of 
development angular, surrounded by numerous acu- 
minate, glabrous, ribbed, whitish hrrcis, short, 1 to 
1^ lines long, glaucous. Calyx conical, tapering into 
an exceedingly short pedicel. Operculum obtuse, or 
only very slightly acouminate, hemispherical. Ovary 
flat-topped. Stamens all fertile; anthers parallel, 
opening by longitudinal slits. 
Fruits hemispherical to pear shaped, 2 lines in 
diameter, glaucous ; rim thin, slightly contracted, 
valves deeply sot, not exserted. 
Hab.—Weat Wyalong (R. H. Cambage,L. S.), 
This Euoalypt is one of the Mallees occurring 
between the Lachlan and .Murrumbidgee Rivers, 
where it is known as " Blue Mallee," to distinguish 
it from its congeners. 
The dried herbarium material is not easily sepa- 
rated from that of E. viridis. Baker, E, Woollsiana, 
Baker, and E coniei, Deane & Maiden, as the fruits 
of all these species are almost, if not identical ; but 
this Eucalypts differs principally from them in never 
attaining tree-form, and in respect of its floral bracts. 
Other points of difference are the angular buds 
its glaucous character, shape of the leaves and quad- 
rangular branchlet;, whilst the most marked distinctive 
character of all is its oil, the yield and chemistry of 
which place it amonest the most valuable of our trees 
famous for the medicinal qualities of their oils. 
Amongst other Mallees, it digers (1) from E. 
gracilis, F. v, M., and E. dumosa, A. Cunn,, in the 
shape of the fruits and leaves, and the constitupnts 
of the oil ; (2) from E. oleosa in the absence of the 
long, well-exserted valves, leaves and chemical 
constituents. 
In botanical sequence it is placed next to E, 
viridis, as the fruits and leaves mostly reserpble 
fbat speroieB, 
E. Woollsiana and E. conica have much broader 
leaves, and are classified amongst the "Box "group 
of Eucalypts. 
Oil. — The oil obtained from this species is one of 
the best for Eucalyptus oil distillation growing ini 
this colony. The yield of oil, obtained from material 
sent from Wyalong in the beginning of December, 
was 1'35 per cent. The crude oil was only slightly 
coloured, being of a lemon tint. The odour re- 
minded one of eucalyptol, and volatile aldehydes 
are but present in minute quantities. Free acid 
and ester are also comparatively smill. 91 per cent, 
of the crude oil was obtained boili^ below 183° 0., 
and this contained 57 per cent, eucalyptol ; no phell- 
andrene was present, but pinene was detected. The 
crude oil was slightly Isevo-rotatory, due to the 
presence of aroamadendral (the previously supposed, 
cuminaldehyde). The specific gravity of the crude 
oil at 15° C, was -9143, and of the rectified oil -9109, 
this comparatively low specific gravity being due to 
the presence o£ such a small amount of constituents 
having a high boiling point. The specific rotation of 
the crude oil was [aj 0—213° (H- Gl- Smith). 
HORTICULTURE AT NUWARH 
BLIYA. 
A VistT TO Me, John Cotton's OacHABD. 
Probably barely one in five hundred visicora to 
Nuwara Eliya are aware that at the back of Lake 
View, the residence of Mr. John Cotton, may be 
seen the finest orchard in the island for wealth of 
imported fruit trees. It wai in splendid condition 
the other afternoon, when the writer inspected it 
with the proprietor. 
"Never," said Mr. Cotton, "has my orchard so 
come up to the expectations I have all along had of it, 
as it has done this year," 
Mr. Cotton's first attempt at growing English 
and Australian fruit trees was merely an experi- 
ment, but it has developed far bsyoni that stage 
now. Mr. Cotton began his cultivation with plums, 
and the parent tree of this species brought to Mr, 
Cotton from Australia by Mr. A, J. Ksllow, of 
Albion estate, Nuwara Eliya, may now be seen in 
full growth and loaded with large and delicious- 
iooking fruit, in clusters, the size ot the well-matured 
fruit being about equal to that of the native lime. 
These plums are of a dark red colour when ripe. 
THE MAJORITY OF THE TREES IN THE OBCHABD 
AEE PLUMS, 
some of them being from three to four years old, whilst 
a few are seven years old, and they are almost all of 
them in bearing and well grown. The Red Heart plum 
plants from Mr. Cotton's orchard were in great demand 
last year, and this year provision has been made to 
meet requirements by a large supply not only of the Red 
Heart plum plants but also of other varieties. The Bur- 
bank Plum, of which Mr. Cotton had a large crop 
last year, does not seam to have quite come up to its 
past reputation this year The plants nevertheless 
are looking quite healthy, and Mr. Cotton thinks that 
in all probability the crop will come on later, as the 
plants were pruned and handled later than were the 
Red Heart. Mr. Cotton places his great hope in a 
yellow Japanese plum, which is now thriving very 
well, and a variety called the Kelsey Plum is also 
now iu full bearing. Another blood red plum, (of a 
very large size, the largest plum in the orchard, as 
Mr. Cotton says) is just about to flower. Of other 
varieties of plum now being experimented with are the 
well-known Golden Drop, the Golden Heart, General 
Hand, General Sago, the Diamond and the Orleans. 
A few of these varieties are now being tried in the 
Nuwara Eliya Park, Mr. Cotton has in his nursery 
many one year old plants of the Red Heart and blood- 
red variety, both of which are specially reoommended 
for easy cnUivatioa aatl quick boaring. 
