20 
are used in the same way, and sometimes submitted to a process 
known as “ solution,” 7.e. a powerful solvent such as chloroform, 
ether, petroleum ether, or methylchloride is poured over the 
flowers, and after a few minutes strained off ; the solvent is then 
evaporated at a very low temperature in a vacuum still and the 
essence (known as concrete essence) isolated. 
Thus by the processes of maceration, absorption, and solution, 
may be obtained the delicate perfumes of flowers which would be 
destroyed by the coarser process of ordinary distillation with boil- 
ing water or steam; amongst such flowers are the Gardenia, 
Ximenia, Pergularia, Stephanotis, Xylopia, Magnolia, and hun- 
dreds of others too numerous here to name ; yet some tropical 
flowers contain volatiles in sufficieut quantity and power to per- 
mit of the process of distillation being employed, such as the 
Zambak (Jasminum Sambac) of Arabia and India, the Ylang- 
Ylang (Cananga Odorata) and the Tjempaka (Michelia Champaca) 
of southern Asia and the Philippine Islands. Such flowers as 
these and those of the Pandanus (screw pine) are much valued in 
the east on account of their powerful fragrance, the Oriental 
taste inclining to perfumes which are not only strong, but even 
rank, such as Patchouli, Santal and Musk. The first-named is a 
plant very much resembling a Coleus, both in appearance and 
habit of growth. It is a native of China, but has been introduced 
and cultivated in many parts of the Tropics. Its dried leaves 
now form an article of commerce in which an immense business 
is done. The leaves and the essential oil are in much request in 
India and Arabia ; the leaves are also shipped to London, packed 
in bales of about 2cwt. each and sold on the Drug Market. This 
oil is probably the most powerful of all the essential oils ; it is dis- 
tilled at Penang and Singapore also very largely in Germany and 
France. 
‘he Santal is the produce of several species of the genus 
Santalum. The East Indian santal wood is derived from §. Album, 
native of the mountainous parts of India, thriving up to eleva- 
tions of 4,000 feet, and yielding the largest quantity of oil when 
grown on dry, rocky soils, or soils of volcanic origin. The wood 
is all sold by weight, at the annual Government auctions, native 
merchants congregating from all parts of India to make pur- 
chases. The Mysore Government also have establishments for 
distilling the oil, and this is sold at the annual auctions along 
with the wood, being chiefly bought up for exportation to China 
and Arabia. About 12,000lbs. weight of this “ Indian oil” are 
annually imported into Bombay from the Malabar Coast, but 
Ee 
