The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-06

to extract essences by dissolvants. The principle entering into this method is that the natural>perfumes arc liberated by the application of temperature higher than that of the atmosphere surrounding the plant. The inventor of this process separates the perfume by dissolving 1t in a highly volatile liuuid. which is then distilled. Excel lent results have followed the use of ether, chloride of methylene. mesitio alcohol. and sulphate of carbon as dis solvents. The, flowers are introduced into an apparatus, Into which the ether or other dissolvant Is poured. After ten or fifteen minutes this liquid is drawn of. and more ether is intro- duced, and similarly withdrawn. The ether dissoives the perfums. and then. on distiilation, leaves 1t in the form of a white or coiored residue. This resi- due may be oleaginous or solid. but it always becomes solid after . time. Petroleum other is recognised by the Societs dc Parfums Naturels Je Cannes as the best dissolvant. This company has perfected system for obtaining essences, but has not disclosed impor. tant phases of the operation. The product is known as "essence con. crete" One kiiogram of this pure per. Hume is equivalent to 100 Kilograms l22o pounds) of pomads.
 As to geraniuni essence in particular. | learn that 1t Is obtained by the first process described--that is to say by distillation. The essence of geranium Is called "essence of African rose" and is extracted from the leaves and low CTS of several plants of the Geraniaceae family. Of these. the most important variety is that known as Pelargonium odoratissimum, which Is the object of very extensive culture in southern France. Algeria. and Turkey. Several other varieties of geranium yield a sweet rose odor. to which the name of African rose Is frequently given.
 The coloring is almost always red, or derivative therefrom. such as carmine and pink. even darkeniug to black.
 Apart from a few varieties which thrive best on a stony dry soil, with a full sunny exposure. the pelargpnia fa- vor a healthy light soiL enriched by the addition of decomposed nnanures. If kept in pots these should be most carefully drained. The use of manure is essential. if 1t Is desired to make the plants strong. The cultivated yarie- ties do not all yield seed. and those which do are reproduced only by means of seed beds. The peiargonta vegetate all the year round, but must be re- turned to hothouse or frame early in October. Though they arc long lived, 1t Is we'll not to preserve them after the age of two or feur years, at which period they are most beautiful.
 The leaves are distilled by means of steam. yielding 0.i2 per cent. of es- sence. which Is frequently employed as an adulterant Of essence of roses, The best essences known to commerce are the French and Spanish. especially the dark-brown essences. The African ge- ranium essence is inferior to these. The gathering of flowers destined for the extraction of essences Is a delicate process. Each flower must be plucked at an appropriate hour, of the day, and in certain stage of development as- certained only by experience. The crop of geraniums in Southern France now reaches s.s0o.0oo pounds. Oue heetare (2.47 acres) produces from 55,- 900 to 6s.00o pounds, of leaves, worth from s1.14 to s1.33 per 200 pounAel The product in pure essence amounts to 2.?o pounds to each 2.2o4 pounds of raw material.
 I am indebted to the important work of J. P. Durvelle. The Journal de phar. nacie ct Chimie, and vice-Ccnsul pi. attt of Nice. for this information.