10 Aug., 191S.] llie Culture of True Lavender. 491 



remunerative results may be obtained by the application of fertilizers 

 suitable for tbis crop. 



Before 1904, witb fertilizer, tbe yield was 28 kilos of oil per bectare, 

 witb a value of 10 to 12 frs. per kilo, say, 288 to 336 frs. ; as tbe result 

 of enbanced value of tbe oil, tbe gross returns readied, in 1912, tbe 

 figure of 1,120 frs. per bectare. According to tbese figures, tbe action 

 of artificial fertilizers bas more tban tripled tbe returns. 



Mr. Clement, in reporting tbese results, added tbat, in tbe case of 

 tbe crop gatbered from tbe fertilized land, tbe flowers were better 

 developed and more numerous tban on tbe control plots ; tbe oil suffered 

 no diminution in quality; in bis opinion, it sbowed bigber quality, and 

 commanded, consequently, a better price. In tbese tests, self-sown 

 lavender was experimented witb. Tbe question arises wbetber it would 

 be possible to successfully establisb plantation fields of lavender. In 

 our opinion, wbat bas already been acbieved as regards truffle culture 

 would be equally feasible in tbe case of lavender. 



As we bave already sbown, land planted to lavender migbt be situated 

 at a lower altitude tban tbat wbicb bas bitberto been considered indis- 

 pensable for tbis culture, provided tbat tbe soils fulfil conditions wbiob 

 lavender culture requires. 



A lavender plantation may be establisbed eitber from slips or from 

 seed; slips may be planted out eitber in autumn or in spring. If tbe 

 land is at a bigb altitude, spring planting is to be preferred, owing to 

 cold winter spells. In tbe case of seed, tbis may be sown equally 

 successfully eitber in autumn or spring. Wbere tbe winters are mild, 

 autumn sowing is to be preferred. 



Opinions differ concerning tbe merits of propagating lavender fi'om 

 seed or from slips. Slips grow quicker tban iseeds, and may yield in 

 tbe first year under suitable climatic conditions; tbis depends also on 

 tbe plants ; young ones are mucb to be preferred to old ones ; but plants 

 cost tbree times as mucb as seeds, as will be sbown later. 



Slips are planted in rows about 3 feet apart, witb tbe plants 2 feet 

 apart in tbe row. In other words, about 16,600 plants per bectare. 

 Slips are planted witb tbe dibble. Seeds are likewise sown in rows 

 about 3 feet apart, treatment being tbe same as in tbe case of carrot 

 seed, it being buried about 1 inch deep. About 1 oz. of seed is sown per 

 square metre; tbis is equivalent to 10 kilos of seed per bectare (9 lbs. 

 per acre). 



Tbe land should receive two workings; one at the beginning of 

 winter, and another in March (September in Australia) ; advantage is 

 taken of the latter to turn in the fertilizer broadcasted between tbe rows. 

 Tbe harvest commences on the 1st of August (1st of February in Aus- 

 tralia), and finishes about the beginning of September (March in 

 Australia). In the Department of Vaucluse, pickers come at harvest 

 time from tbe neighbouring Department, and are paid at tbe rate of 7 frs. 

 per 100 kilos of flowers gatbered with the stems (£2 16s. per ton). A 

 picker can gather about 130 kilos of lavender flowers per day. 



Gathering is not carried out if the plants are wetted by rain, as the 

 flowers then yield less oil; absence of sun and excess of water do not 

 favour the production of oil in the flower. As the flowers are brought 

 in from the farm, distillation proceeds. Distillation is carried out in 

 the open air in a still witb a boiler capacity of from 4 to 8 cwt. of 



