El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-31


what it ought to receive, in view Of
these oils is very constant and the price
reasonably high. The distilation of
waste or unstable lemons would yield
a volatile oil of lemon of high quality
and readily marketable. 1t is further
suggested that lemon tree prunings
produce. by distilation, an oil or an ex-
tremely high flavor, which should
prove valuable.
Volatile Oils In FIavorinE.
The use of volatile oils in flavoring
and in the manufacture of flavorinS
extracts is very extensive. It is re-
stricted. however, to a comparatively
small number Of oils, principal among
which are lemon, orange, wintergreen,
peppermint and others of this type
The lemon and orange oils are import
ed by US from Sicily and Italy The
only kind of volatile oil that we export
in any considerable quantity is that
OF the peppermint. OF peppermint oil,
distilled mostly in Michigan and New
York. we send abroad about 100000
pounds annually, valued at $780, 600.
A wild plant that yields 4 volatile
oil of much value is the sassafras tree
which is found all the way from Flor
ida to New England Sassafras oil was
one of the first volatile oils distilled
in America, and at the present time it
is produced on quite a large scale in
half dozen states. It is obtained prin
cipally from the root-bark. which is
first ground and then subjected to ordi-
nary steam distillation-
Among other aromatic plants that
furnish valuable oils are the winter
green and sweet birch. The two are
not botanically related. yet, curiously
enough. both produce the same kind Of
oil-the sweet birch from it's barks and
the shrubby wintergreen from its
leaves and twigs. Wild bergamot and
horsemint, which grows wild in the
north central portion of the United
States, from Pennsylvania to Mime
sofa, yield volatile oils that are most
useful for their antisepIic properties.
And not to be forgotten is the small
herb known as pennyrO"al, the oil of
which, distilled chiefly in Ohio and
North Carolina. finds extensive employ
ment in medicine
Importations Are Heavy.
We import about s2.750.000 worth of
volatile oils of all kinds annually But
this estimate does not include imports
toilet and cologne waters, which
amount to nearly 100000 worth per
annum. The perfumery products come
chiefly from France, where the art of
compounding them-usually they are
blends of odors made by combining
several oils in varyings proportions
has been scientifically developed.
Although volatile oils find many uses
in medicine. the greatest demand for
them comes from makers of perfumes
and perfumery products and of flavors.
AS a result of scientific research in
perfume chemistry, not only has a
large field of commercial activity been
developed, but scientific knowledge It
self has been much extended IN view
of the increasing Importance Of this
class of products to American trade, it
seems highly advisable that steps be
taken to investigate the possibilities of
ur own country in the way of perfume
production.
Oils i'm Tissues of Plants.
Such volatile oils exist in the tissues
of plants in the form of minute glo-
bules. which are sometimes so conspic-
uous as to be seen without the aid of
a magDifying glass. If a leaf Of the
peppermint, especially at the time Of
poisoning, be closely examined, tiny
glistening particles of oil will Re dis
cerned. In like manner, close sc-I;iny
Of the peel of lemon or orange Will
disclose to view small circular oil
glands just beneath the outer skin
to give lemon or orange its character
istic roughened appearance.
Oil OF geranium is derived from three
well known species of the plant one
Of which is the common rose gera-
MUM" of our gardens. These geraniums
are grown for the perfume market on
an immense scale in southern Europe
the plants being harvested a little be-
fore the opening of the flowers, when
the lemon-like odor they at first pos
sess gives place to the odor of the rose
To get the oil, the entirep liant is put
into the still, and sometimes rose pet.
ais are added to improve the quality
1t is believed that in the coast belt of
the south and in southern California an
oil of geranium might be produced
equal to the best imported article
The most famous of all sweet smell
ing oils, altar roses, costs SIS an ounce,
and, even at that price, is practically
always adulterated with oil of s.era-
MUM 1t is made by simply distIling
roses in water. The pure altar is very
offensive to the smell; only when it