New-York tribune., 1908-01-30
A FIELD FOR WOMEN
WILSON Suggests Perfume Making
as Profitable and Pleasant.

Us TFOBIdObc ana Pheasant.
a pleasant and profitable field is open for
women in the perfume industry, in the opinion
OF Secretary Wilson OF the Department of
Agriculture, who says that the climatic condi-
tions Of this country such that flowers and
plants Of every description and variety can
be grown.
Anything that be grown IN any part of
the world said the Secretary "can be grown
TO perfection In the United States; the only diff
Guilty experienced is in finding the right spot,
and that be done, has been shown by
our work of producing the tulip. narcissus, hya-
cinth and other rare blooms and bulbs In the
Far Northwest, placing us where we can sue
cessfully compete with Holland in this industry.
the only handicap being in securing cheap
freight rates. AS 1t stands these bulbs can
be brought to New York and other markets
from Holland at less rate OF freight than they
can be by overland from Northwest Washing
ton. When satisfactory rates are arranged we
give the Dutch lively run for their money.
'I have not given the perfume industry the
consideration and study it deserves. but feel
entirely safe in asserting that there is no reason
in the world why women cannot make good
money and find pleasant employment by enter
ing this field which is open TO them-rais-
ing flowers for the extraction OF their perfumes
Frag grant odors have been used by people OF re-
finement since the days of creation. and there
is evidence that the old religions sought the aid
Of perfumes to captivate the worshippers, choos-
ing the nose as one of the shortest and surest
ways TO reach the soul. a physiological fact not
vet forgotten by the Roman and Greek
churches.
THE USE OF SCENTS.
"a love for flowers Is always commendable.
but love for their essences-their souls. so to
Speaks almost universal and entirely praise
worthy, and il shows civilization and refine
ment II is generally understood that of
this country plain, n1atter-of-fact people,
most of us busted in building, growing corn and
cotton, running railroads, making money IN
every way. and careless of Iuxuries; but think
Of our noses costing US, one year with another
something like a round million for extracts,
pomades and the like. Why, we pay out more
than $4,000 annually for imports Of ottar Of
roses alone, when there is no necessity for dis
bursing one red cent for article which can
be made right here We couldn't raise tea in
this country, either, the croakers said, but we
are growing the finest Favored teas in the world,
and Their cultivation is carrying thousands Of
dollars annually into the pockets Of the women
and children Of the South Tea cultivation is
not only giving them good wages, but employ
ment that is light and pleasant.
Il repeat: We can grow any and every thing
in this great country of ours and the thing to
do is TO get in line and get at it, thus keeping
or money at home to give comforts to women
and girls. and goodness knows that those in the
rural districts have d hard enough time at best
But, come TO think of II, I suppose there are
lots Of overworked shopgirls who would be far
better off physically and mentally, to say moth
Ing Of the moral side, if they raising tea or
silk worms, or cultivating flowers for the per-
furne. 1t is my understanding that for the
latter work very little capital is required. the
machinery being comparatively simple and in
expensive.
"a few dollars VIII start e business. and there
IS always a demand for every essence OF extract
which can be produced Now, as in olden times.
the rose is the queen of perfumes, as It is the
queen of the garden. and ottar Of roses Is more
than worth its weight IN gold. In France roses
are grown by the square mile, and they are
c7l1led before the bloom has lost its sweetness.
The buds and half open blooms are boiled IN
pure fat for several hours. the fat strained, new
flowers added and the whole boiled again. This
process IS repeated four times, and the pon1ade
is considered saturated with the essence or
roses Spirits in the proportion Of gallon to
eight pounds Of the paste. is added, and the re-
s71+ is esprit de rose This is kept to mix with
grosser perfumes, q drop being sufficient to i'm
uar- an exquisite fragrance 70 any compound
From ottar OF roses are made all the tasIlloh-
e1IA rerfurnes now in such general use. It re-
o1Ifres about six hundred pounds of rose leaves
- rrodlIce one ounce of ottar. worth about TOO
Of course very little of this arrives in America
in q pure state; II IS too valuable not TO be
counterfeited and diluted.
soTre United States claims pre-ern1nence IN
the manufacture Of the ottar Of wtntergreen'
which IS used chiefly by confectioners and keeps
hundreds q perfUn1ers busy in New Jersey.
long ago the Europeans succeeded IN manufact-
r1-ing the essence OF WlILeISItcti HUN
acid and wood ether. and, naturally. our trade
was hurt but we can produce hundreds OF other
things and find a ready market not only here
b,,t ir, foreign countries. I would be glad to
rea some of our women who are seeking proht-
zb7A Investments take up this work But, as 1
said s+ the outset l am not IN a position TO give
@sc+s and figures. [ have had too much on
hand n take up the question, but I am thor
,,s-,1v- convinced that It would be an industry
----{ch would furnish employment for many and
bring .n good interest on the money invested.
The details must be gathered by studying the
--v,er,e erlr,loyed in France, Italy, Germany
- ct1,er countries If our good women are In
.,-ct, IF something new and profitable in the
- ,4 investment and employment the way is
-, -{,,rt hero The conditions are entirely IA
-~a1,Ie for growing all kinds of flowers and
,,-,Ire and it will doubtless prove an industry
vrT1irJ3 would develop and grow with wonderful
rapidlty.
GOVERNMENT WILLING TO HELP.
whatever assistance this department can
s- ~ one who may desire 10 enter the flower
g--,,ri7e- field viii be willingly and cheerfully
H., We are here for the purpose Of furnish
snr~ what fever information we are enabled to
gather by and from our experiments and inves-
tiqa+ious along all lines, and II is the pubhcs
eir,r,Iv for the asking. Our experts are in the
ea,d continually and whatever they may learn
4 for the benefit Of our people. That is what
+I,fse men and women are paid for. and ii is my
-;eb and the wish Of my co-workers that every
NJ