Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-22
AMONG THE RANCHES,
Typical Facts About Southern
California Farms.
Interesting Features of Flower Farm
ing for Perfumery.
Large Company Formed in San Fran
ciscO-The Gum Disease-Other
Farming Notes OF
Interest.

l
Farming company of California has
been organized at San Francisco, with
MIR. Cavalier as agent. His relatives,
Messrs. Cavalier of Grasse-whose per-
fumery house has been established in
Southern France over century-also
have an interest in the California COM
pany.
Its object, Mr.. Cavalier shows, is "to
acquire and lease land, to engage in
flower farming and flower distillation as
it is carried on at Grasse, to procure
plants, bulbs and seeds, to erect dis
tilling plant and the buildings necessary
to carry on the business of msnufactur-
ing perfumes" He continues: ut is
well known that no industry OF this kind
exists in the United States, where per-
fumes imported from abroad, and chiefly
from France, are SO largely used. A duty
OF DO per cent ad valorem is levied on
imported perfumes, and, allowing a
profit OF % per cent to the French dis
tiller, an article made in this country
would have the advantage of rs per cent
over and above the same article of for
eign manufacture. It is also known
that perfumery gives very large profits.
Often only few drops of certain COM
bination of scents are required to pro-
duce large amount of perfumed liquid,
which is retailed at fancy or even ex-
orbitant prices. While it is admitted
that labor is more EXPENSIVE here than
in France, yet flowers can be cultivated
quite as cheaply here, for they, grow in
such profusion that crop would not
cost nearly as much to raise as in
France. Taking the import duties into
consideration, it can be easily realized
that the profits would be very large, as
real essences of flowers are expensive.
For instance, real French altar of
roses costs $3.50 pound; orange
blossoms neroli costs $50 pound
and geranium rosa, $50 pound. As
to the fitness of our climate, several
trials have been made in Southern
California, which have proved that
flowers produced on ground which lies
high, enjoys q dry atmosphere and q
southerly exposure, and which is shell.
tered from cold winds, give, after close
analysis, percentage of essential oil
equal to that obtained in France; and
the geranium rosa, when grown on a
large scale, has yielded by distillation
an even higher percentage. These ex-
periments have been conducted for the
past two years, and should dispel the
illusion that our flowers have not as
much aroma as those grown in Southern
France. This criticism is true when
applied to flowers grown on low lands
and in the fog belt, for cold fogs
burn the leaves and flowers of tender
growth, and too much dampness.
though often helping the excessive
growth OF the plant, will cause an over
production of leaf, thus interfering
with and preventing the formation OF
the essential oil and the development
OF the aroma of the flowers and leaves.
"The cultivation of flowers would be
carried on as in Southern France, boys
and girls being employed at low wages
to pick and sort the flowers in the pre-
paratory room. The culture of scented
plants would be spread outside of the
company's farm among the neighboring
population, instruction would be
given free of charge, seeds, plants,
bulbs would be sold at cost price, and
help and personal supervision given
when necessary. At the proper sea-
sons the neighbors could unite among
themselves, as in France, to gather the
flowers and leaves and sell them to the
company. In this way flowers can be
grown cheaply, and their culture spread
over large district, creating new in
dustry in the state, and giving employ
ment and comfort to hundreds of fam
ilies."
1t is suggested that instead of follow
ing eastern taste there might be formed
ladiee' committee, to blend and com
bine the perfumes of California flowers
and to decide which combination shoul,
be adopted for use on the Pacific coast
Great Southwest.