The oil as thus obtained was water-white, of a pleasant aromatic odour, and although containing phellandrene, yet that constituent was not present in excessive amount. It is thus seen that the oil from this Eucalypt is distinctly different from that obtainable from either E. dives or E. radiata, which species supplied much of the oil sent to Europe at one time under the name of E. amygdalina.

We visited one of the districts of this State, where Eucalyptus oil was, at that time (1899) distilled, and saw evidences that the material being worked in that locality was obtained principally from E. dives, some from E. radiata, as well as from the present species. Large quantities of the "suckers" of E. dives were growing up in all directions, and were springing from the stumps of the trees that had been originally cut down for Eucalyptus oil distillation. Much of this oil was forwarded to Europe as the product of E. amygdalina. At that time E. dives, E. radiata, and others that are now recognised as distinct species, were all classified by some botanists as varieties of the one species (E. amygdalina), and it appeared difficult to discriminate between them by the then recognised methods of classification. The chemical investigation of their several products had not at that time been separately carried out, so that this aid towards correct classification was not then available. Chemical investigation demonstrated that the morphological differences which marked these species were specific, and that the "Peppermint" tree, E. piperita, had even more chemical affinity to the present species than had either E. dives or E. radiata.

It would not be possible for a mixed oil from these three species (E. radiata, E. dives, and E. phellandra) to give even comparatively constant physical or chemical results, so that if examined at different times and by different observers, little agreement would be shown as existing in the supposed product from one particular species. To illustrate the necessity of keeping the products from distinct species apart, we have tabulated the results obtained with these three species from different localities.

These oils all contained phellandrene in varying amounts, and it is to the presence of that terpene that the lævo-rotation of the oil is largely due.

* Note the marked agreement between these two samples of oil of E. dives, although obtained from widely separated localities. This is due to the time of the year being the same in both instances.

It may be assumed that during the spring and summer months, the optical rotation of a particular Eucalyptus oil will be somewhat greater than during the winter months, owing to the presence at that time of an increased amount of the particular terpene causing the rotation; on the other hand, the cineol is generally more pronounced during the winter months.

It is evident that an oil rich in cineol could not be obtained from either E. dives or E. radiata. On the other hand the peppermint ketone, piperitone, which is such a pronounced constituent in the oil of E. dives, could not be profitably extracted from the oils of either E. radiata or the present species.

The great differences of solubility in alcohol between the oils of the above three species is also worthy of notice.