524 BOTANY BAY, OR OR ASS TREK, OUM. 
works to carry on the experiments is situated about eighteen miles in a 
southerly direction from Colac, and here for some months past experi- 
ments have been carried on in connection with the grass tree. The 
root is the portion used in these experiments, and usually weighs from 
10 lb. to 50 lb. The root is composed of the stems growing in a close 
mass around the inner portion or kernel. From the outer portion ot 
the gum shellac in large quantities is obtainable ; the refuse contains a 
large quantity of gas, and can be made available for lighting the 
works. From the inner portion is extracted, by pressing distilling, 
a spirit equal to the best brandy ; after distilling, a quantity of saccharine 
matter remains, from which sugar can be extracted. The present 
supply of grass tree in the neighbourhood of St. Romain's is computed 
to be equal to a supply of 600 tons per week for the next ten years. 
Great quantities of young grass trees abound, which will keep up the 
supply, and doubtless cultivation would enlarge the roots." 
In a paper which we read before the Society of Arts in 1855, " On 
the Gums and Resins of Commerce," we entered rather fully into the 
character and uses of this resin. We therein stated that Capt. Wray, 
R.E., submitted a report to the local authorities of Western Australia in 
1854 on the manufacture of illuminating gas from the Xanthorrkcea at 
one-third the expense of lighting with oil or candles. 
The plant grows in abundance all over Western Australia, and is 
composed of a core of hard, fibrous pith, about half of its whole 
diameter, round which there is a layer of resin, varying from half an 
inch to one inch or more in thickness, which forms the connexion 
between the leaves and the core. Between these leaves and also 
adhering to, and covering them, is a considerable quantity of resin ; 
resin also exudes in large lumps from the sides of the plant. 
The method of obtaining the material in the colony for this purpose 
was as follows : — In the first instance, the leaves and resin were sepa- 
rated from the core by breaking up this plant with an axe and sifting 
the resin from the leaves, but it was found by experience that as much 
gas was obtained from an equal weight of the leaves and resin together, 
as from the resin alone. The quantity of resin obtained from an 
average sized " black boy " was about 45 lb. weight. This was col- 
lected easily at the rate of 5 lb. per hour, by a person having for his 
tools an axe and a sieve. 
Should the resin be collected for export, I am satisfied that by a 
proper arrangement of crushers and sieves, a labourer, at 4s. per diem 
(the colonial rate), could collect at least one hundred weight per diem, 
enabling the resin to be brought to market, at Freemantle, for 41. per 
ton, the ton weight measuring forty-five cubic feet when pressed. The 
quantity of pure gas obtained by Capt. Wray's experiments was at 
least four cubic feet to the pound of resin and leaves, but much more 
might be obtained by a more complete apparatus. 
