The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-27
BY RooERIcK CLIFFORD

ov n0O6"SN VIII VIM
Washington, Dec. 27.-Perfume max
ers OF Europe are no longer in abso-
lutte possession Of the trade OF the
women of the United States who use
bottled fragrance. The peppermint,
spearmint and wormwood products,
grown in New York. Michigan. Indiana,
Wisconsin, and states of the upper
Mississippi Valley, are now the back
bone of the home industry.
Frank Rabak, expert chemical biolo-
gist of the Department OF Agriculture,
discussing the history OF perfumery
today said:
1.-The use OF aromatics and perfum-
cry dates back to the early ages when
spices, and other resinous exudations,
many OF which possessing agreeable
odors. were used for the purpose of
seeming. The peculiar agreeable aro-
mas emanating from plants growing in
their native habitats may be supposed
to have early aroused the attention
and admiration OF the primitive peo-
| pies, although 1t may not have been
known in what form plants and flow
ers possessed their aromas. Before
the art OF distillation was known, the
ancient peoples used odoriferous
plants and spices in their dried form
for their agreeable odors. Gradually,
however, the development of the spec
ial utensils for other domestic pur-
poses may have resulted in the dis
| covery or methods for separation of
| pdn nIa 70
The use of distilling apparatus by
the ancients in their endeavor to
solve the problem of transmutation of
elements, and in other researches re-
quiring the. separation Of volatile from
nonvolatile substances. antedates it's
use for the production of essential
oils and perfumes, but 1t was probably
learned at an early date that the odors
present in plants aud plant exudations
were capable of separation because of
their greater volatility. when COM
pared with other constituents present.
The first mention in ancient Greek
writings OF the separation of an odor
| from crude substance is that of oil
Of cedar. which was separated by the
crudest apparatus. This consisted of
an open earthen kettle. in which the
oleoresin was boiled with water, the
vapors Of steam and oil being collect
ed In layers of wood so placed that
the steam from the kettle passed
through the wood. which served as a
condenser. and retained the oil and
water. Gradually his apparatus was
transformed until it consisted of two
definitely related parts, the kettle or
body of the still. and the removable
head. which. besides closing the ket
on account OF its exposure of large
! surface to the air. Further improve
ments were made, and the modern
still OF today is an adaptation of the
essential principles of this apparatus.
| THE possibilities for perfume manu-
facture in the United States" says Mr.
Rabak. ARE unlimited. but little has
| been done to promote the industry
| Up to the present time, 'he adds" the
cultivation of perfume-yielding plants
has not been carried on. even expert
mentally. over a large part of the Unit
ed States, and such work as has been
done is confined to but few kinds Of
plants. Until our knowledge along
these lines has been much increased
by practical attempts to cultivate this
class Of products. only statements of
probabilities can be made. However
in some cases plant introductions
along other lines from oil-yielding
countries of Europe with information
as to conditions Of climate and soil in
those regions. give basis for calcula-
ton in connection with these crops.
The wide diversity in climate and soil
in different parts of the United States
with the varying conditions of heat,
light and moisture. renders 1t probable
that some portions Of the country will
be found to be well fitted for the cul.
tivation Of perfumery plants character
isfic OF the temperate zones. 1t ap.
pears probable that the conditions pre-
vailing In those parts of Europe asso
ciated with the perfumery industry
can be fairly well duplicated. 1t will
doubtless require much experimental
work to find the particular localities
best suited to special plants"
Some work on perfumery.plant
growing has been carried on in Flori-
da. notably by Z. Moulie, OF Jackson
vile. whose experience has been en-.
couraging. Experiments by S. C.
Hood with a number Of oil yielding
grasses in the testing garden of the
bureau OF plant industry at Orange
City. Florida, give ground for hope
that a number Of plants able to endure
freezing weather may be cultivated
with good results. California and the
arid southwest offer promising condi
lions for plants which thrive in dry.
sunny locations. Michigan, Indiana
and New York are already we'll known