Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-11-13
mark.. cu,tur. Of lavender in England.

ly different character, its cultivation
for commercial purposes is confined to
an area of comparatively small extent.
There are plantations in Herts and
Cambridgeshire, but by far the largest
proportion of the flowers that are sent
annually TO the distilleries are pro-
duced in Surrey, in the district of
which Mitcham may be considered the
centre. Formerly the lavender planta-
tions of Surrey were confined TO the
parish of Mitcham, but of late years, TO
keep pace with the requirements Of the
manufacturers, it has been found ne
cessary TO considerably extend the area,
and plantations of vast extent are now
TO be met with in Beddington, Walling
ton, Sutton and CarshaltOn, and il is
computed that in this district there are
at least 800 acres under lavender. 1t is
now about eighteen years since the
first plantations were formed in Bed
dington, and from thence the culture
has extended to the adjoining parishes,
particularly those on the south and
west, and in passing at the present
time through the lanes or footpaths
that intersect the fields, the eye is at
tracted on all sides by broad sheets
of color. Lavender culture now forms
an industry of no small importance to
the district, and will in all probability,
undergo still further extension, for il
is certainly not likely that the produce
OF the Mitcham fields will be supplanted
by that from any other part of the
country. To fully understand why il
is that the cultivatOrs in Surrey are so
well able to hold their own against
growers in other countries, il must be
remembered that flowers borne by
plants grown on dry soils and in warm
situations yield, by distillation, an es-
sential oil of much finer quality than
that obtained from flowers produced by
plants on soils containing a superabun-
dance OF moisture. and in situations
that are not particularly warm. The
presence of calcareous matter in the
soil appears also 10 exercise a very ma
terial influence upon the quality of the
essential oil, and at Mitcham we find
good depth of loan, somewhat "hold-
ing" in texture, and resting upon a
bed of chalk, and climatical conditions
of highly favorable character. The
common lavender. Ldrdaduld rerd, is
the species grown in the Mitcham and
other districts, as the oil yielded by its
flowers, although not so large in bulk
as that produced by the flowers of Lar
aRduiG Spicd, is of much finer quality,
and is alone employed in the manufac-
ture of the finest perfumes. The oil
obtained from the last mentioned of the
two species is rather green in color and
is commonly known as spike oil, or
foreign oil of lavender. 1t is chiefly
used to- painting, but a considerable
quantity finds its way every year TO the
secOnd-class manufactures, where Law
ender water and other perfumes, of
which the base is the essential oil OF
lavender, are prepared, and this in its
turn is sometimes adulterated with
spirits of turpentine. The harvesting
OF the flowers takes place at the end OF
July or the beginning of August, ac-
cOrding 10 the season, the proper mo-
ment for cutting the spikes being just
as the flowers are opening, "a they are
then more powerfully aromatic. and
consequently yield an oil of greater
value than when fully expanded. The
cutting is done with the sickle, and
every care taken to Immediately pack
and tie up in mats. for when exposed
TO the rays of the sun for any length of
time after cutting, the yield of oil is
materially reduced in consequence. The
flowers cannot indeed be sent TO the
distillery too quickly after their reno
val from the plants. Large quantities
OF lavender flowers are sent TO Convent
Garden annually, and from thence find
their way TO the shops and coster's
barrOws, for there is still a demand for
them for filling muslin bags TO stow
away in drawers and cupboards, not
withstanding the facilities which exist
for obtaining the essential oil, and la
vender water and other perfumes into
which it enters. The flowers 1T should
be remembered, are put into drawers
and wArdrobes as an antidOte to moths
as well as fol imparting an agreeable
odor 20 the articles placed in these re-
ceptacles. \ few drops OF the oil will,
however, serve the same purpose, and
II has been ascertained by experiment
that ii single drop is placed in small
box along with living insect, the in
sect will be killed almost Immediately.
The distillation of the flowers is a bust
ness quite distinct from that of their |
production, and both large and small /!
growers take their crops to the distill- /
cry and pay certain rate per ton. The |
quantity Of oil extracted from ton of |
lavender varies according to the sea-
son, rather dry and hot summer be- |
ing the most favorable to an abundant |
production. From 10 lbs to l6 lbs. is |
considered a fair average, but in favor
able seasons not more than 10 lbs. of oil /
Is obtained from a ton of lavender, and /
in some years it reaches2 20 lbs, but not |
often. The distilling commences about
August /, ana is continued until the
end of September or the middle of Oc-
tober, according TO the extent of the
crop. This is considered as being a
good year, for, owing to the abundance
of moisture in the early part of the sea-
son, vigorous growth was made, and
the spikes pushed up strongly in con-
sequence, and the warm dry weather
which prevailed was favorable to the
development of the flowers.
Former Suez Canal.