Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-09-17
TO TEST ROSE OIL
Uncle Sam Is Trying to Make
Perfume.
Bureau Of Plant Industry Experiments
Result In Producing Extract, but
Quality Sill Rename In

Result IN Producing Extract, nut
Quality Sill Remains In
Doubt.
Observation-Disclosures Sans latest
step In conservation ia an effort to
retain In American pockets an annual
expenditure OF several millions which
v sent to European markets for the
purchase Of altar Of roses--a luxury
which feminiity regards as a neces-
stty.
The bureau Of plant industry Of the
department OF agriculture is conduct.
ing experiments at the Arlington
plant farm to determine whether this
perfume can be produced In the
United States as commercially
profitable enterprise.
Under the direction of Or. Walter
Van Fleet, an expert rose grower, and
DR.. Rodney H. True. In charge of
drug plant investigations. about 40
varieties Of the roses grown by the
French and Bulgarian producers Of
rose oil were imported last year and
set out at the Arlington farm.
There are now between 700 and 800
plants in the experimental bed and
the directors Of the new enterprise
gathered their hrst crop this spring.
The yield for two weeks was about
10 pounds Of petals per day. These
petals have been distilled and yielded
about the same quantity Of the highly
scented oil which Is usually extracted
from similar quantity of European
grown petals.
The experts of the department Of
agriculture are not ready, however, TO
ray how this American oil compares
with regard to quality with that pro-
duced across the seas. 1t will be sub
mitted to rose oil experts for class
1ication and upon the report Of these
experts will rest the future Of the de-
partment's new investigations and
experiments.
The mere fact that the oil can be
produced In this country, say agricu!-
tural experts, does not establish the
TACT that the new enterprises will be
. commercial success. There are a
number OF other factors which will
enter largely into the equation, even
II the quality Of the oil is found to be
equal to the imported product.
Prominent among the difficulties to
be met and overcome in the produc-
ton Of rose essence" In this country
II the high cost Of labor. This will
principally come into play when the
( flowers are harvested and the rose
growers find that they will have to
pay from four to six times rs much to
laborers over here a. Is paid across
the pond" The plants require but lit
tie, personal attention and can be
worked by horses, but the picking Of
I the roses has to be done under pecu-
liar conditions.
To secure the best results the now
srs must be gathered early in the
morning, not later than 10 o'clock. As
the perfect flowers are only to be
found on clear, dry days, the grower
can never determine beforehand on
what days he will pick But as the
full grown flower IL practically worth
less, he must have picking force
ready to enter the gardens the mo-
ment conditions are suitable to gather
the buds.
In southern France, which, with Bull
garia, supplies the American markets.
the rose growers solve this problem
In an unique manner. On eSch farm
II a large bell. When the pickers'
services are required this bell is
tolled at an early hour and the peas.
ants hasten to the fields. 1t may be
difficult. say farming exports. TO pur-
sue the enterprise in this manner un-
der the present labor conditions ex-
listing In this country.
The rose oil Is used principally in
the manufacture Of perfumery land
as favoring agent for certain unpala-
table medicines Statistics compiled
Ave years ago showed that the United
States imported annually more than
100000 worth OF the crude rose oil
from Europe. Today this oil 6hole-
sales at from So to $40 an ounce. The
perfume manufacturers convert about
an ounce OF this valuable product into
manufactured products, the principal
Ingredient OF valuG In which is the
oil These manufactured products
usually sell for about $40, allowing
the manufacturer profit OF from 80
to 100 per cent on purchase.
America, however. does not confine
her importation Of the altar OF roses
to the crude oil. The importation OF
perfumes annually foots up more than
$4,50O.0o0 and a large percentage OF
these finished products contain a
greater or lesser quantity OF the cost
ly oil.