40 THE PRODUCTION OF VOLATILE OILS AND PERFUMERY PLANTS. 



mum of labor on somewhat sandy, dry soil which possibly has no 

 great value for the j^roduction of other croj^s. 



PENNYROYAL. 



Pennyroyal is a small annual herb characteristic of the east-central 

 portion of the United States. It is distilled for its oil principally in 

 Ohio and Xorth Carolina, with smaller operations in intermediate 

 States. The pennyroyal plant {Hedeoma pulegoides) is native to 

 the United States, is readily propagated and grown, and yields a 

 volatile oil which finds extensive application in therapeutics. The 

 yield of oil distilled from the fresh flowering herb varies from three- 

 fifths to 1 per cent. 



MISCELLANEOUS AROMATIC PLANTS CAPABLE OF CULTIVATION. 



The foregoing instances represent typical cases of wild plants indi- 

 genous to the United States and capable of yielding volatile oils, 

 some of which are distilled on a quasi-commercial basis while others 

 are not grown or distilled at all. 



Hosts of other wild aromatic plants are found growing in all sec- 

 tions of the country, many possessing exceedingly fine fragrance and 

 many, on the other hand, possessing odors less attractive but never- 

 theless possibly of value. These odorous plants will in most cases 

 produce volatile oils which ma}' contain constituents of value, not only 

 in the iDerfumeiy trade but also in the arts and medicine. A system- 

 atic canvass of the flora of the United States, with special atten- 

 tion to those plants which possess an aroma, and a trial distillation of 

 the same, followed by a careful, detailed chemical examination of the 

 oils, will no doubt bring to light new oils, the value of which may be 

 determined from the nature of the constituents identified in them. 

 Several new volatile oils have been distilled within the past year 

 which have been shown by chemical analysis to contain highly valu- 

 able constituents. The results of these experiments, which have 

 proved very gratifying, will be published in the' near future, and the 

 significance of the exploration in this field of research will be clearly 

 indicated. Practicall}' no progress has been made in this direction 

 within the last few decades. The necessity of these investigations is 

 therefore strongly recommended. 



Various other plants deserving mention, besides those alreadj^ culti- 

 vated and those growing wild which possess volatile products of 

 value to the perfumer and confectioner, are the rose, lavender, rose 

 geranium, rosemary, thyme, SAveet basil, summer savoiy, and sweet 

 marjoram, and the umbelliferous seeds (caraway, anise, fennel, and 

 coriander), besides the citrus fruits lemon and orange. The plants of 

 the first general class, though not native to this country, have been 



195 



