The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-06-23
FLORIDA PLANS
BIC PERFUME
INDUSTRY
Sweet Smelling Flowers From
All Parts of World to Be
Exploited
BY EARL ADAMS.
International News Service.

GROVELAND, Fla, June "a
Florida, long known as O winter
resort, has doomed as a producer
of fine perfumes.
During the past twelve months,
without publicity and practically IN
noticed, a large industry has been
developed in this section which,
according to predictions made by
officials Of the concern, will bid
fair to vie with the largest pro-
duerS Of understanding odors in
the entire world.
American manufacturers Of per.
fumes and various other toilet proc.
ucts heretofore have been compelled
to purchase their supplies abroad,
1t was pointed OUT, not only involv-
ing high prices, but carrying heavy
import duties.
A large corps Of chemists, botani.
cal and research experts, equipped
with the latest apparatus, have
settled here in a section, which they
declared was particularly adapted
to floral growth" For one year
they have been experimenting, and
at the end OF this period have de-
clared that developments have been
produced which surpassed even the
fondest hopes.
Acres and Acres Of Flowers.
More than ITO acres near here
now are under intensive cultivation
Of flowers, with laborers busily pre-
pairing an additional $50 acres for
the same purpose.
In order to protect the more deli
cate flowers and rose specimens
many acres are under shade, while
others, capable Of weathering sun.
shine and rain, are grown out in
the open, where acres and acres
present riot of vivid coloring and
diversity Of perfumes.
Almost any flower yielding q
scent can be found in the garden.
China orchids from the warm islands
OF the tropics, geraniums from Al
giers, violets from England, lilies
from France can be found, together
with scores of other beauties. Al
most $50 varieties Of the rose at
present are in full bloom.
About 1000 acres Of citrus groves
have been taken over for the pur-
pose OF extracting perfume. In these
groves are lime, orange. grapefruit,
tangerine and kumquat trees.
OHucT IHcIH CSLH DC lOunO large
sheets spread on the ground for
the purpose of collecting petals. The
trees are carefully shaken, causing
the petals to fall to the ground.
Clay Absorbs Flowers Odor.
The collection then is placed in
alright cabinets, which contain a
preparation of clay. They are left
there for twenty-four hours. dur
ing which time the clay (lSaolin
absorbs the perfume given off by
the flowers.
At the end Of that period the
blooms ore discarded, and the kaolin
substance is given a bath in al.
cohol. BY this means the perfume
Is extracted from the clay.
Another advantage to the per.
| fun1ery is a kaolin mine, which is
situated in the center Of the gar
dens. Kaolin, the experts said, is
the basis for many toilet articles
such as powder, sachet, creams
cosmetics and facial clay.
Financiers back Of the experiment
have expressed perfect satisfaction
with the present outlook, saying
many advantages are had that the
average perfume producer does not
have. Among these, it was said,
Is the most of maintaining green.
houses.
A bulletin, issued by the United
States Department of Agriculture,
estimated the approximate cost of
maintaining green houses at from
100000 to $4,000 per acre.