44. ODOROGRAPHIA. 
is only exported in small quantities, but the Bourbon production 
annually increases in importance. 
The variety of Pelargonium cultivated at Grasse is represented 
by the annexed illustration, which is a facsimile of a living leaf 
of a specimen of the plant kindly supplied to the writer by Messrs. 
Warrick fréres, of Grasse. The plant is propagated by cuttings 
which are set in well-sheltered beds in October. During the 
frosts they are covered over with straw matting. In April they 
are taken up and planted in rows in fields or upon easily irrigated 
terraces. ‘They soon form bushes three or four feet high. At 
Nice they generally flower at the end of August. At Grasse and 
cooler places they flower about the end of October. The whole 
flowering plant is put into the still. 
The green colour of the Réunion oil is not the result of the 
presence of copper, but is probably due to the same cause as the 
colour in Cajeput oil. 
Oil of Pelargonium should dissolve perfectly in from 2 to 3 
volumes of 70 vol. per cent. alcohol at 20° C.*, forming a clear 
solution. If any considerabie proportion of fatty oil be present, 
the mixture appears milky, but if a very little oil is admixed it 
appears only turbid, and after standing some time a greasy coating 
forms on the sides of the vessel. 
It has been remarked that if geranium oil be kept in tins it 
acquires a very repulsive odour by prolonged contact with the 
metallic surface. It is, therefore, advisable to pour the oil into 
glass bottles as soon as received, and should the smell not dis- 
appear, the oil must be poured out and exposed to the air for 
several hours in an open basin. 
The sp. gr. of the Algerian oil is 0°899, and that of Réunion 
0°891 (Schimmel). 
“ Indian Geranium,” or Ginger-grass Oil. 
This oil is distilled in India from the leaves of Andropogon 
Schenanthus, Linneus ; synonymous with A. Martini, Roxburgh, 
A. nardoides, Nees, A. Pachnodes, Trinnius+, A. Calamus aroma- 
ticus, Roylet, A. Iwarancusa, Schultes §, and Cymbopogon Mar- 
* Jaillard, Journ. de Pharm, xxvii. p. 205. 
+ Spec. Gram. iii. t. 327. ® 
+ Illust. Bot. Himalayan Mountains, i. p. 425, t. 97. 
§ Phil. Trans. lxxx. p. 284, t. 16. 
