(R.T.B. & H.G.S., Proc. Roy. Soc, N.S.W., 1915, P. 514) Black Peppermint.

Systematic - It attains forest tree height, but more often is only a medium sized tree. The bark is persistent well out on the branches, and is typically " peppermint," being of a compact, fibrous nature. Abnormal leaves sessile, opposite, cordate-lanceolate. Normal leaves narrow, lanceolate; venation distinct, lateral veins very oblique, intramarginal vein removed from the edge. Peduncles axillary, with about ten to twenty flowers; calyx turbinate, short; operculum obtuse, flattened.

Fruit. - Pilular to turbinate, rather small, comparatively; with red rim, countersunk when fully ripe, and a thin contracted edge; valves not exserted; from 2 to 3 lines in diameter.

The insloped rim is perhaps the best feature by which to separate these fruits from those of E. amygdalina, but their shape differs very little, if any, from E. amygdalina, var. nitida, and E. phellandra.

Habitat. - Yourie, Reedy Creek, Tanto, Nerrigundah, as far south as Wyndham, Burraga and Black Springs, Bathurst district, all in New South Wales.

REMARKS. - This is an addition to our former book on the subject, the species not having been discriminated at that time. It was described before the Royal Society, New South Wales, vol. 49, p. 514, as a new species, as the result of our work on the Eucalypts of Tasmania, when it was stated that E. amygdalitis, a species under which this tree has been grouped in the past, was restricted to that Island, and did not occur on the mainland as previously supposed. It is hoped that the separation of this and one or two Eucalypts from those previously named as E. amygdalina will lead to clearing up the confusion, both batanically and chemically, that has been so prominent in the past.

ESSENTIAL OIL. - The production of an excellent pharmaceutical Eucalyptus oil from this species depends largely upon a fact which was recorded in the first edition of this work, 1902, p. 170. We there showed that by fractional separation at stated times during the primary distillation, an oil richer in cineol could be obtained, particularly if the portion which came over during the first hour were separated. The cineol in this way was more easily obtained than were the alcoholic bodies and other higher boiling constituents in the leaf. By taking advantage of this property, and working the trees growing at Nerri-gundah, Yourie, and neighbouring districts of New South Wales in this way, it has been possible to produce an oil of a fairly constant character, high in cineol content, and conforming readily to the requirements demanded for a first-class pharmaceutical Eualyptus oil. The results have been so satisfactory that the species is, at the above localities, now worked in this way, the "first hour oil" being sold for pharmaceutical purposes, the remainder being employed for mineral separation and for other industrial uses. The chemical results obtained with this oil, separated as nearly as possible one hour after commencing to distil, are remarkably constant, so much so that it is not difficult to decide whether the time of separation had been extended beyond the hour. (See the article "The comparative constancy of the oil products from individual species of Eucalyptus.")

The remarkably high yield of oil given by this species enables this method of working to be profitably undertaken, and the quantity of oil obtained during the first hour is as great as that from many other cineol producing species when these are distilled right out. The "second hour oil" thus becomes practically a subsidiary product, and as it contains a good quantity of terpineol with some geraniol, finds uses in other directions. Little advantage appears to be derived from distilling the leaves for a longer period than two hours, as the amount of oil obtained is but small. The "first hour oil." when properly prepared, is water-white, which fact appears to be due to the presence of the liquid phenol, Tasmanol - common to this group of Eucalypts. This phenol contains a methoxy group, a constitution which does not tend to the formation of a yellow colour, as is the case with the crystallised phenol occurring in the oils of other large classes of cineol producing Eucalypts. The amount of volatile aldehydes in the crude oil is but small, so that rectification of the "first hour oil" is not necessary before placing it on the market. This species of Eucalyptus, considered as a cineol oil producing tree, thus becomes of considerable importance Irom an industrial point of view, particularly as the country where it grows plentifully is usually of little value for agricultural purposes.

Our attention was first directed to an increased amount of cineol in the oil of the "Narrow-leaved Peppermint" growing in the Southern Coast District of New South Wales, by Mr. W. T. Farrcll, early in 1913. He had collected his specimens at Nerrigundah, in which locality this tree occurs somewhat abundantly. Arrangements were made to distil the oil in commercial quantities, and control analyses were undertaken at the Technological Museum, on the oil collected each month. In November of that year the Museum Collector forwarded material from Yourie and Tanto, in the Cobargo district. This was distilled at the Museum, and the results of the analysis of the oil are here given. Later, a visit was paid to this portion of New South Wales, and by the courtesy of the District

Forester at Moruya, Mr. Clulee, and his assistant, Mr. Harrison, who drove his car, it was possible to make extensive observations over a considerable area of country, concerning this Eucalypt. Since that time numerous analyses of the oil have been made for distillers, who have prepared the oil for market, and quite an industry has now been established in the production of this particular Eucalyptus oil, and large quantities have already been sold.