EUCALYPTUS OIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8879, 16 May 1892, Page 6

EUCALYPTUS OIL.

As a palliative or preventive in cases of influenza, there has been quite a run on eucalyptus oil in the old country. So much «o that the article got very scarce, and prices went up by leaps arid bounds. From being worth 2s 61 per lb, it gradually jumped up to ll?s ti 1. This was in January last. .So that the influenza scare cave ii decided fillip to this article. Tiie Chemist and Druggist seems to think th it in future the oil will become a regular domestic remedy, and ' keep up its reputation as a medicinal preparation. Already eucalyptus is largely used in these colonies for various complaints, notably for colds, fevers, diarrhoea, and rheumatism ; and not a few people prefer the simple mode of chewing the leaves to taking it in any other way. Although Australia is the natural habitat of the gum family, trees ive been so extensively planted in other countries that supplies of eucalyptus oil can now be obtained both from the south of France and California. In the latter country the planting of the blue -gums has been carried on very extensively, the first plantation having been made as far back as ISG'J. The trees grow quickly, making fine shelter, and proving or great value for many purposes. It is said that as large a quantity as 20,0001b of the oil of Eucalyptus globulus is now annually exported from California. At first it seems that little or no attention was given to distilling the oil. Its ultimate adoption as a commercial product has been described as folio :— "In 18S3 a Mr. George Downie discovered by accident that a decoction of eucalyptus leaves removed the scale from boilers. He set about putting a preparation on the market, and succeeded in this. .Meanwhile he found that in superintending the manufacture of the boiler fluid he had lost an asthmatic affection from which he had suffered for years. A friend with whom he was associated in the work was also cured of bronchitis. They had noticed the pleasant odour which came from the boilers, but they were unaware that the leaves contained a volatile body until they were told what a valuable oil they were wasting. Means were at once taken to collect it, and that with the boiler fluid was the beginning of a very respectable industry, which was ultimately taken over by the company. The factory is situated at the San Lorenzo Station, on the .Southern Pacific Hail way. The trees in the forests and plantations are cut down, and the leaves gathered by men called strippers. From 10 to 12 tons of leaves are operated upon daily, these yielding 1500 gallons of boiler fluid and 70lb of essential oil. The oil is thus a big product, and during the past two years it has become so important a part of the industry that the company have appointed a skilful chemist, under whose instructions the purity of the distillate has become greatly improved." The planting of blue gurus in this colony used to be condemned by some people. In clumps, however, and grown thickly together, they are valuable for shelter. The timber can also be utilised in many ways. And as the oil is about to be a popular remedy, Eucalyptus globulus should come to the front, and forests of these trees ought to be planted. The trees will grow on most soils, and are easily raised. Eucalyptus of the following varieties can be obtained at the Experimental Nursery, VVhangarei, at 2s (3d per hundred, or 6d per dozen Blue cum, red gum, sugar gum, iron bark, cider gum, stringy bark, white ironbark, yellow-box gum, karri gum of West Australia. These plants average from 15 inches to 2 feet in height.