54j 
PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS — SECTION B. 
scented, several of them distinctly so. It would be very desirable to 
examine the essential oils from every one of them, both as to percen- 
tage of raw material and composition. Fusanus persicarius, F. v. M., 
should be first taken in hand, in order to compare with the oils of 
the other two species of Fusanus which have already been examined. 
Another so-called Sandalwood is the “Budda” or “ Budtha ” 
( Fremophila Mitchelli, Benth.). It is very desirable that the wood of 
this and other fragrant Fremophila woods, and that of Myoponm 
platycarpum , B. Br., should be distilled and their oils examined. 
DYES Oil TINCTORIAL SUBSTANCES. 
The coal-tar dyes have ruined vegetable dye industries in most parts 
of the world, and have rendered it extremely improbable that any of 
our indigenous dye-stuffs may possess economic value. Nevertheless 
a number of our plants promise to yield colouring matters of high 
scientific interest ; but, as far as I know, Professor Bennie,* * * § of 
Adelaide, is the only chemist who has been tempted to make serious 
investigations in this direction, besides his work of years on the 
colouring matter of the tubers of Drosera W hit taken. Another 
substance which promises to yield results of high scientific interest in 
his hands is the yellow powdery substance found on the winged seeds 
of lomatias. f The researches of BosollJ on the colouring matter 
of "Yellow Everlastings ( Helichrysum bracteatum , Willd.) ; 8chunck§ 
on the chlorophyll of Eucalyptus globulus , Lab.; and Fluekigerj| on 
the ash of the capsule powder of Mallotus phillipinensis , Muell. Arg., 
complete the catalogue as far as I know. 
Following are the few researches I would suggest to chemists : — 
The wood of the Cockspur Thorn or Native Fustic ( Guclrania 
javanensis , Trecul.) has been used as a yellow dye for many years, but 
has not been investigated. Do any of our native species of Indigqfera 
(particularly I. australis , YVilld.) yield indigo P The barks of Pipturus 
arqenttus , Wedd., Ctclosperrmm reiiculatum , Benth., Zieria Smithii , 
Audr., various species of Persoonia , and many other Australian plants 
yield tinctorial matters worthy at least of preliminary examination. 
The flowers of Cedrela Toona, Boxb., yield an excellent yellow and 
red dye for silk in India. YViH any chemist ascertain whether the 
flowers of our Bed Cedar (by some botanists said to be identical with 
C. Toona , and, at all events, very closely related to it) contain a 
similar substance? 
TANS. 
It is probable that the barks of Acacias (Wattles) will remain 
for all time the staple tan material of Australia. In my “Wattles 
aud YVattl e-barks ” I have embodied the result of a large number of 
analyses of representative barks, and in spite of the acquisition of many 
data since its publication, my views as to the comparative value of the 
barks specified remain unaltered. For the sake of uniformity of 
results and rapidity of working, I would advise chemists to adopt 
* Jmiro. Chem. Soc., li., 371; Proc. R.S. S.A., x. } 72 ; this journal, ii. } 398 ; Journ. 
Chera. Soc., Ixiii., 1083. 
t This journal, v„ 326. * . 
+ Monatshefte, v., 94 ; Pharm. Journ. [3], xiv., 9b o 
§ Chemical News, xxxi., 32. ... 
|| Archiv. de Pharmacie, 230, i., 2; Pharm. Journ. |3J, xxin., 894. 
