Seward weekly gateway., 1905-12-09
GREAT PROFIT IN ORRIS
Root Has Unfailing Market and
 Grows in Almost any Climate

NOOl lldS OliA"iiii'b AA"'
 Grows in Almost any Climate
 Orris root cultivation is receiving attention in the United States. For many years limited area near Flor cnce, Italy, had almost a monopoly of the product, but a few years ago it was introduced into this country, and has been cultivated with great success. Orris i, the commercial name for the pcrfumed root used in making all the perfumed powders sold in the market as specialties. ItiS made from powdered orris root, and it's fragrance is perman- ent.
 C. R. Cole, general agent for lands in the Southwestern states, has been engaged for several years in stimulat- ing the cultivation of orris root, He has discovered that it will also thrive in most of the northern states, but with the popular idea that Alaska is at the base of the North Polo he conSci- cautiously wrote to q Seward citizen as follows:
 "It would not do for cultivation in Alaska, ! fear. The roots are left in the ground an winter, but think your climate might he severe. It is hardy plant and has prospercd in New York and Southern New England, but was winter killed in Maine.'
 Mir. Cole evidently has not learned that Seward winters are less severe than those Of Southern New England. Describing the plant NIr. Cole says:
 "The orris plantiS one ofthe beauti- ful family known aS Iris, of which there are 500 varieties known to botaniStS. Most of them bloom in the early spring. The orris is the only one OI them that contains any perfume in the root Ship loads of this root are annually imported into the United States, the value or which is estimated at several million dollars annually, and the demand iSraF- idly increasing "
 "The plants require no special care, only needing to be hood or plowed two or three times during the summer. They continue to grow until after frost comes, while the tops remain green throughout the winter. The plant Is adapted to the climate and soil con- ditions of North America anywhere west of Maine, and south of Lake Superior. The plant has no enemies; stock will hot eat it; drought will not kill it. The plants in Kansas survived drought in that state without any ln- jury"
 "The beauty ofthe plant, at all times, but especially when in blOm. gives it a fascinating attraction. When grown near large cities, the cut flowers bring quite a sum, so that the plant has a double yalue.'
 The department of agriculture of the federal government urges the cultivat- ion of orris root in this country be- cause of the extraordinary profit in it, and because a large amount Of money is annually sent to Italy to import it in great quantities, An authority on the subject says:
 Most of the orris root is grown near Florence, Italy, where the cultivation. preparation. drying and curing process es have been carried on for a long period and the secret careful guarded, so that noriculturiSts actually know very little about the plant and nothing at all about the drying and curing methods. Parties from the United States, sent over by manufacturers of perfumes who used the powdered root, had difficulty in learning the process, and in getting a supply of the plants. A thousand plants were secured, and tried in the United States, in different localities. The plants all aourished, and the roots from same, tested by leading perfumers, were pronounced equal to, or even superior to the Italian product. The agricultural department in Washington recommends the culti- vation of orris. Every pound can be sold as readily as wheat. It is a pro- tected industry, their being an import duty on the roots of D per cent.
 Orris is the commercial name for the perfumed root used in making all of the perfumed powders sold by drug gists, perfumers and manufacturers of perfumed specialties. It is to perfumed powders what animal musk, or amber gris, is to liquid perfumes. No lasting perfume can be made without one of these for base. Musk is fluid sec reted in a sack of certain fur bearing
 animals. Ambergris is fatty product taken from diseased whales They give to liquid perfumes the quality of permanence. In like manner and for the same reason, orris root is used aa the base for perfumed powders. At