102 
E. M. Watson. 
of samples of charcoal from E. marginata as well as calorific values for 
charcoal obtained from E. calophylla , E. redunea Var. elata , “mulga” and 
“ti tree.” 
N. A. Hanley and J. F. Pearse have investigated, for the Iron and 
Steel Panel of the ■Department of Industrial Development, the distillation 
of the wood of j Eucalyptus calophylla, E. diversicolor, E. marginata and 
E. redunea var. elata, as part of the preliminary work in connection with 
the establishment of a pilot plant for the production of charcoal iron at 
Wundowie. An examination was made of the composition of the liquid 
distillate and of the wood gas at varying temperatures and the relationship 
of the volatile content of the charcoal to the retorting temperature was 
studied in the case of E. marginata. It was found that E. calophylla gave 
the highest yields of methyl alcohol and acetic acid and that, while the 
yields of acetic acid were only slightly lower with E. diversicolor and E. 
redunea var. elata, these two species gave considerably less methyl alcohol. 
E. 'marginata gave much lower yields of both products. The results obtained 
from E. calophylla compared reasonably well with those from such North 
American hardwoods as beech and maple. From the point of view of char- 
coal production, highest yields were obtained from E. marginata and E. 
redunea var. elata. 
X. CONCLUSION. 
It should be clear from what has been said that there is an immense 
field open for the study of the native plants of this State, a field com- 
manding the attention not only of chemists, but of botanists, agriculturalists, 
entomologists, pastoralists and manufacturers. There is no institution here 
in which pharmacological work is being carried out and there appears to 
be no one interested in ethnological aspects of our native tribes which might 
have bearing on some of the problems which have been indicated. Such 
facilities as do exist for chemical investigations are limited to a greater or 
lesser extent by the nature of the other work which must be performed in 
the institutions which enjoy these facilities. In consequence it is felt that 
too strong a plea cannot be made for the establishment of either a separate 
Government department or a branch of an existing department, a principal 
function of which would be the investigation of these problems. A start 
in a very small way has been made by the Department of Industrial De- 
velopment in the establishment of a Drug Panel, but on its present footing 
this panel can contribute very little towards the solution of some of the 
major problems which have been indicated and which may take several 
years to solve. An appreciation of the results of the fruitful association 
of botanist and chemist as represented by the joint work of Baker and 
Smith and of the continued flow of valuable work from the Sydney Techno- 
logical Museum, carries with it the conviction that we ar e neglecting a field 
of enquiry which must ultimately adequately repay any capital expenditure 
on buildings and equipment as well as salaries paid to new officers. 
Essential requirements for such a new department or branch would 
include adequate housing of the State herbarium which should be extended 
to feature all products of possible technical importance, and the provision, 
preferably in the same building, of the necessary laboratory accommodation 
and equipment for carrying out the chemical investigations. Ground or 
floor space for small pilot plant investigations is also essential, as well 
as adequate space for gardens for cultivation and breeding experiments. 
