The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-06-29
ATTEMPT TO CHECK
FLOOD OF DOLLARS
Flowing from u. S. Annually
for Altar of Roses
Uncle Sam Leads.
National News Association


WASHINGTON, u. c., June 23.-Un-
icle Sans latest step in conservation
lis an effort to retain in American peck
cts an annual expenditure of several
millions which is sent to European
markets for the purchase of altar OF
'rcses-a luxury which femininity re-
CARDS as a necessity.
The Bureau of Plant Industry of the
department of Agriculture is conduct
ing experiments at the Arlington plant
farm to determine whether this per-
ifume can be produced in the United
Estates as a commercially profitable en-
'terprise.
Under the direction of DR.. Walter
Wan Fleet, an expert rose grower, and
DIR. Rodney II. True, in charge of drug
plant Investigations, about forty varie-
ties of the roses grown by the French
and Bulgarian producers of rose oil
were imported last year and set out at
l1ne Arlington farm.
Experiment is Made.
There are now between 700 and 500
lT!ants in the experimental bed and the
directors of the new enterprise gath
cred their first crop this spring. The
yield for two weeks was about 40
POUNDS of petals per day. These petals
have been distilled and yielded about
the same quantity of the highly scent
led oil which is usually extracted from
Ia similar quantity of European grown
petals.
The experts of the Department of
agriculture are not ready, however,
TO say 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 classical
ton and upon the report of these ex-
lperts will rest the future of the de-
Ipartment's Investigations and expert
iments.
The mere fact that the oil can be
produced in this country, say agricul-
tural experts, does not establish the
fact that the new enterprises will be
a commercial success. There are a
number of other factors which will
enter largely into the equation, even If
the quality of the oil is found to equal
to the imported product.
Prominent among the difficulties to
'oe met and overcome in the production
of rose essence in this country is
the high cost of labor. This will princi-
pally come into play when the flowers
are harvested and the rose growers
find that they will have to pay from
four to six times as much to laborers
ever here as is paid across the pond"
The plants require but little personal
attention and can be worked by hors-
es. but the picking of the roses has
to be done under peculiar conditions.
To secure the best results the flow
ers must be gathered early in the
morning, not later than ten 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 Is practically worthless
he must have a picking force ready to
enter the gardens the moment condi-
tons are suitable to gather the buds.
In southern France, which with Bull
garia, supplys the American markets,
the rose growers solve this problem in
an unique manner. On each farm is a
large bell. When the pickers' services
are required this bell is tolled at an
early hour and the peasants hasten to
the fields. 1t would be difficult, say
farming experts, to pursue the enter
prise, in this manner under the pres
ent labor conditions existing in this
country.
The rose oil is used principally in
the manufacture of perfumery and as
,fiavoring agent for certain unpalata
bic medicines. Statistics compiled FIVE
years ago showed that the United
States imported annually more than
100000 worth of the crude rose oil
from Europe. Today this oil whole