80 Some Minor Farm Crops. 



IL— LAVENDER. 



The growth of lavender was introduced into this country from 

 the continent of Europe more than three centuries ago, and 

 like peppermint, though not to the same extent, it is now 

 grown commercially in England for the essential oils, as well 

 as for the flowers. The industry is best known in the district 

 round Mitcham, in the county of Surrey, and Mitcham lavender 

 and lavender water have established more than a local repu- 

 tation. But the plant is also grown commercially in other 

 parts of the county, and also in Kent, Hertfordshire, Suffolk 

 and Dorsetshire. 



Foreign competition, especially that of French lavender, 

 has been largely responsible for the decline in the cultivation 

 of this crop in England. The warm sunny climate of 

 the Alpes Maritimes district in the South of France is more 

 suitable to the growth of lavender than the comparatively 

 sunless climate of England, and it is there that large areas of 

 this crop are to be found. High situations also favour its 

 growth, and in the south of France and in the north of Italy 

 it grows very luxuriantly at altitudes of 4,000 feet. The 

 climatic conditions produce important differences between the 

 two oils, their composition varying very materially, and the 

 plants of the French crops of lavender produce a larger 

 quantity of oil, containing about 40 per cent, of esters, whilst 

 the English plants produce less oil, with only 7 to 10 per cent, 

 of this ingredient. But no doubt Mitcham oil has a reputation 

 of which no other in the world can deprive it, though this 

 reputation may in some cases have been prejudiced by adul- 

 teration. 



The English oil is used for a particular type of lavender 

 water, whilst the French oil is used for every other purpose, 

 for soap, perfumery, &c. 



The variety most prized for cultivation is Lavandula vera, 

 and is the only variety commercially grown in England. Like 

 peppermint it can only be grown profitably on certain soils. 

 It requires a drier subsoil than peppermint, and that which 

 suits it best is a light rich loam on chalk. Given the right soil 

 it will grow in most situations provided it has plenty of sun 

 and air. The liest yield is obtained in a hot dry summer. 

 Lavender plantations can be formed by taking cuttings from 

 established plants, and they are never, probably, produced from 

 seed. 



Cultivation. 



Land for this crop requires to be cultivated to a depth of 

 from 12 to 15 inches till a good tilth is obtained, free from 

 weeds. Land rich from the previous year's manuring is to be 



