The National tribune., 1902-09-04
DISTILLED BITTERNESS.
A Farm in Wisconsin Where Wormwood IL
Raised and the OIL Extracted.

Raised and the OF Extracted.
With the disposal of the product for
this year, Leander s. Drew, OF Lodi. Wis.
closes the work Of one-half century as 4
producer Of the oil Of wormwood. From
the plants grown upon 100 acres of rich
valley land the oil is distilled. and this
queer husbandman bears the unique dis
tInction of being the greatest producer and
of having the most extensive wormwood
works IL the United States, if not in the
world.
The farm lies between the shores OF
Crystal Lake and the main travelled road,
extending from Lodi to Prairie-du-Sac.
The residence and distillery are hidden
away behind Il bluff-hke hill, and Mt the
end of long, winding road, guarded by
II massive farmers gate. So secluded Is
the place, and SO Unexpectedly does the
wayfarer come III sight OF II, tnat one
might suppose he WIS approaching Il spot
where kentucky mOonSniiie Is made, be-
yOnd the pale of the wandering revenue
collector.
Ihe wormwood plants are grown on the
farm III about the same manner us corn,
oats and other cereals. The plants grow
from two to three Icet high. They arc
light Ill color, and have the appearance OF
being covered with dew. AS soon as the
unattractive purple blossoms appear the
cutting and distiiiing begin. by means
of an ordinary moving machine with Il
drOpper attachment the plants are cut
down and left i'll large bundles to wilt in
the hot Summer sun.
AS soon as they become wilted and fac
cid they are loaded on wagons and hauled
to the distiilery, where big iron fork
comes down into the load. By means of
rope and pulleys the fork with its burden
is hauled upward TO Il little car on rails,
where an automatic attachment is quick
ly made. In no time the car rolls to the
opening over the large vat, when there is
u jerk to the trip ropes and the bunch of
wormwood shrubbery is dropped into tn,
vat. This is repeated until the vat is
filed to the top with the aromatic plant.
In the engine room adjoining there is a
boiler. BY twisting valve the steam is
turned into the vat so that every stem and
leaf of the hoary plant is immersed i'll the
steam, and must yield the essential oil.
From the vat the steam passes into the
condensing pipes, laden with oil from the
herb. The pipes are submerged in cold
water basins made ont Of cement, and
there the oil collects, drop by drop, to tiud
its way through small opening to yes
sci prepared to receive it.
The oil, being of less specific gravity
than water, collects at the top of the YES
sci provided for the purpose. They can
into which the drops of oil and water fall
is provided with a spout which almost
reaches the top of the vessel, making it
appear like a gardeners water pot. Out
of this spout flows the floating oil. There
comes time in the process when the re-
ceiving vessel will hold no more of the
oil, and this state is known by the bitter
liquid escaping through the opening where
the water is to flow away. The produce
is then poured into the shipping f1sks 10
be sent away to the Eastern markets.
As soon as all Of the oil has been sc
cured from the plants in the watts, the
iron fork is sent down into Il and brings
frrtn the stcamilg stems and leaves. Many
people cannot WORK with tn. plant be-
cause of the OdOr.
There are about 800 wormwOod farms
in the United States, two of which are
owned by Mr.. Drew. The demand fer
the oil is much greater than the supply. |
Much of it is imported from Europe.
Great tracts of land in Europe are devoted
10 its production, and the discovery Of
absinthe by two old Swiss women has
stimulated the trade of the '.graen-eyed
beauty" from the distilled juice OF TIE |
plant.
In the past 80 years the price of oil Of
has advanced from 81 t. Si
pound. On account of the widespread use
Of absinthe it is not anticipated that .he
price will ever touch the dollar marx
again.
The oil is used IN making liEiments ahi
other remedies 1t has n penetrating
possessed by no other Gil. and
when applied ..gocs direct to the bone