,i6 



Journal of Agnculiiirc. Victoria. 



[lo ^Jav, 1912. 



SMALL RURAL INDUSTRIES. 



A.— LAVENDER CULTIVATION. 



By Josef Ji Knight. 



The establishment of the essential oil industry, like many others of a 

 similar nature, has been attempted in this State, but, from various causes, 

 has not been followed up — notwithstanding that liberal assistance was offered 

 by the State Government, and satisfactory results as to yields, &c., 

 obtained. Things are now, however, becoming more satisfactory for the 

 grower in this regard, and, with proper care and attention, it may well 



LAvtiNDii-R (i.A\ ENDERA VERA). 



take its place amongst the profitable minor industries of the rural popu- 

 lation. The producer should be content to produce the flowers and dis- 

 pose of them to the distiller, or where this is inconvenient, distill them and 

 dispose of the oil to the wholesale chemist, and not try to manipulate 

 it further by attempting the making up of perfumes. Such attempts have 

 often been made heretofore and failed. 



Lavender {Lavendera Vera or Levendida Augusiifolia) is one of the 

 hardiest of herbaceous plants, and thrives under a wide range of condi- 

 tions of both soil and climate — even poor, sandy, or loamv soils are 

 agreeable to it, and these conditions are recognised as resulting in the 

 production of the finer class of essential oil. One condition of .soil is 

 very necessary, and that is, it should be free from pos.sibility of 



