8 THE PRODUCTION OF VOLATILE OILS AND PEEFUMERY PLANTS. 



time to time, until the apparatus came to consist of a still body with 

 a detachable head, to admit of the introduction of the material, and 

 of a condensing worm or tube surrounded by flowing cold water. 

 The highly efficient modern still embodies in a more elaborated adap- 

 tation the essential principles of this crude apparatus. 



Along W'itli the development of the necessary aj^paratus there have 

 grown up in different parts of the world many large and small indus- 

 tries founded on volatile-oil production. From the small stills for- 

 merly used in making essences or spirits for use in the home for 

 medicinal, condimental, or perfumer}^ purposes from herbs gath- 

 ered wild or grown in the garden, there have come the extensive 

 perfumery industries of southeastern France, the attar-of-rose indus- 

 try in Bulgaria, the peppermint and turpentine industries in the 

 United States, and the other many and varied phases of the great 

 industry of volatile-oil production. 



The present centers of activity in this branch of manufacture have 

 become established where they exist through a favorable combination 

 of conditions, including the adaptation of soil and climatic conditions 

 to the needs of the plants concerned and suitable labor conditions. 

 In southwestern France a general perfumery industry of great im- 

 portance, based on the production of lavender, cassie, rose, violet, 

 and other perfumery plants, has grown up. The attar of roses from 

 Bulgaria and Turkey, the rose-geranium oils from Algeria, Re- 

 union, and other French colonies, the lavender and other essential 

 oils from England, and the citrus oils from Italy, as well as the 

 lemon-grass, citronella, vetiver, and other volatile-oil and perfume- 

 producing products from India, may be mentioned as important in- 

 dustrial products. In the United States and in Japan the produc- 

 tion of peppermint oil and its products constitutes an important 

 industry. In many instances introduced plants are used; in others, 

 native species, usually brought under cultivation, form the basis of 

 production. 



The growth of the volatile-oil industry has been most rapid in 

 late years in Germany and France, due in part to the opening up 

 of remunerative lines of work by pioneering scientific workers and 

 in part to the greater demand for these products by the manufacturers 

 of those countries. Although volatile oils find much use in a medic- 

 inal way, the greatest demands come from the makers of perfumeries 

 and of flavors. As a result of scientific research along the lines of 

 perfume chemistr}-, not only has a great field for commercial activity 

 been discovered but scientific knowledge itself has been greatly en- 

 larged. This mutually helpful relation between science and commerce 

 has been conspicuously developed in France and Germany, but to only 

 a relatively slight extent in this country. In view of the increasing 

 importance of this class of products to American commerce, it seems 



195 



