Evening star., 1902-08-08
DISTILLED BITTERNESS
FARM IN WISCONSIN WHERE
NORWOOD is RAISED.
Process Employ in Extracting the
oil-Cultivation of the
Plant
isl Corr. the Indianapolis News

Lodi (wis) Corr. the indianapolis News.
With the disposal OF the product for this
year. Leander 5. Drew OF this place closes
the work OF one-haIf a century as A pro-
ducer OF the oil Of wormwood. From the
plants grown upon 100 acres Of rich valley
land the oil is distilled, and this queer hus-
oandman bears the unique distinction OF
being the greatest producer and OF having
the most extensive wormwood works I'm
the United States. IL not In the world
The farm lies between the shores OF Crys-
tai lake and the main travelled road ex-
tending from Lodi to Prairie-du-Sac. The
residence and distillery are hidden away
behind blufflike HILL ard at the end of a
long, winding road guarded by a massive
farmers gate. So secluded is the place
and so Unexpectedly does the wayfarer
come in sight OF il. that one might sup
pose he was approa ching a spot where
Kentucky moonshine is made beyond the
pale of the wandering revenue collector.
Grown Like Cereals.
The wormwood plants are grown on the
farm in about the same manner as corn
oats and other cereals. The plants grow
from two to three feet high. They are light
In color. and have the appearance Of being
covered with dew. As soon as the unat-
tractive purple blossoms appear the cutting
nary moving machine with a dropper at
tachment the plants are cut down and left
In large bundles 10 wilt in the hot summer
sun.
As soon as they become wilted and faccid
they are loaded on wagons and hauled to
the distillery. where big iron fork comes
down into the load. By means OF a rope
and pulleys the fork with its burden is
hauled upward TO a little car on rails
where an automatic attachment is quickly
made. In no time the rolls to the
opening over the large vat. when there is
a jerk to the trip ropes and the bunch OF
wormwood shrubbery is dropped into the
vat This is repeated until the vat is filed
to the top with the aromatic plant.
In the Distillery.
In the engine room adjoining there is a
boiler. BY twisting a valve the steam is
turned into the vat SO that every stem and
leaf of the hoary plant is immersed in the
steam and must yield the essential oil.
From the vat the steam passes into the
condensing pipes. laden with oil from the
water basins made out of cement, and
there the oil collects. drop by drop. to find
its way through a small opening 10 a ves-
sci prepared to receive IL.
The OIL being of less specific gravity than
water, collects at the top Of the vessel pro-
vided for the purpose. The 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 receiving 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 TASKS, 10 be sent away to
the eastern markets.
Wormwood Farms.
As soon as all Of the oil has been secured
from the plants in the vat the iron fork is
sent down into It and brings forth the
steaming stems and leaves. Many people
cannot work with the plant because of the
odor. There are about $40 wormwood farms
in the United States, two OF which are
owned by Mr.. Drew. The demand for the
oil is much greater than the supply. Much
of it is imported from Europe. Great tracts
of land in Europe are devoted to it's pro-
duction, and the discovery Of absinthe by
two old Swiss women has stimulated the
trade of the ''green-eyed beauty" from the
distilled juice Of the plant
In the past fifty years the price of oil OF
wormwood has advanced form 81 to So
pound. On account of the widespread use
of absinthe 1t is not anticipated that the
price will ever touch the dollar mark again.
The oil is used in making liniments and
other remedies. 1t has penetrating prop
erty posse essed by no other oil. and when
applied goes direct to the bone.