GROWTH AND HARVESTING OF PERFUME PLANTS. 29 



It is of the utmost importance that all oils should be placed in 

 bottles which are well filled. The absence of air is of the greatest 

 importance in insuring the preservation of an oil. The oxygen of 

 the air, assisted by light, becomes extremeh^ energetic in bringing 

 about some of the changes previously mentioned. It is therefore of 

 import that the oils be kept not only in well-filled, tightly stoppered 

 bottles, but in a dark place. It is sometimes convenient and advisable 

 to use amber-colored bottles in order to prevent the entrance of the 

 actinic rays of light which are so active in causing polj^nerization. 

 A cool place is also to be preferred for the storage of volatile oils. 



All undue exposure of oils to the action of light and air should be 

 avoided as much as possible. It is necessary that an oil from the 

 time it leaves the receiving vessel after distillation or rectification 

 until it is filtered, dried, and bottled should be handled with care and 

 dispatch to insure a product of the best quality and appearance. 



GROWTH AND HARVESTING OF PERFUME PLANTS. 



CLIMATE AND SOIL. 



Up to the present time the cultivation of perfume-yielding plants 

 has not been carried on, even experimentally, over a very large part 

 of the United States, and such work of this sort as has been done 

 is confined to but a few kinds of plants. Until our knowledge along 

 these lines has been very 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 the oil-yielding countries of the Old World, together with 

 information as to conditions of climate and soil in those regions, give 

 a basis for surmise 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 it 

 probable that some portions of the country will be found to be well 

 fitted for the cultivation of the perfumery plants characteristic of 

 the temperate zones. It appears probable that the conditions pre- 

 vailing in those parts of Europe associated with the perfumery 

 industry can be fairly well duplicated. It will doubtless require 

 much experimental work to find the particular localities best suited 

 to special plants. 



It must be borne in mind, however, that not only must conditions 

 of soil and climate be right but that the labor conditions which go 

 with the problem must be met in a practical way. The distance of 

 the point of production and the transportation factors are also im- 

 portant and might be decisive. 



195 



