LAVENDER. 365 
into consideration whether it can deteriorate by excessive heat or 
by contact with water. 
As regards the flower under consideration, it has been proved 
that actual contact with water in the body of the still yields the 
finest product. 
The body of the still should be very shallow compared with its 
width, to allow of the rapid passing over of the oil as soon as it 
escapes from the oil-glands of the flower, otherwise the first 
particles volatilized in the lower part of the still would condense in 
the upper part of the charge and remain there until volatilized a 
second time by the rising heat. The less the oil is subjected to 
the action of heat, the finer its aroma will be. With a broad 
shallow still, the area of the furnace must be proportionately large, 
i. e. if distillation by naked fire be the mode adopted, and by some 
distillers it is preferred to steam-jacketed stills. In order to 
prevent any chance of the fiower scorching, also for the con- 
venience of lifting the charge in and out, fhe flower should be 
packed in a basket made of sheet-copper, perforated with holes of 
about } of an inch diameter to allow free circulation of water. 
The perforations must be both at sides and bottom, and the basket 
furnished with a perforated copper lid and lugs on each side to 
allow of its being lifted in and out of the still by overhead tackle, 
such as a Tangye chain-pulley or a swing-crane. The copper 
basket should fit to within an inch of sides and bottom of still, 
and be provided with four copper legs to rest on. Sufficient water 
is let into the still to just reach the top of the basket. The head 
is then luted on and secured by clamps. The condenser con- 
sists of a coil of pure tin-pipe, and is connected with the head by 
a curved pipe secured at each end by a brass union, the pipe being 
passed through the unions and ground to a flush surface. 
If well constructed, the vapours will begin to condense in about 
three-quarters of an hour from the time of lighting the furnace, 
and the condenser is then copiously supplied with a flow of cold 
water. The bulk of the oil and the finest part of it will condense 
during the first half-hour. The oil which condenses afterwards is 
inferior, and should be collected in a separate receiver, 
Before loading in a fresh charge, the dirty water in the stil] 
should be siphoned out; the fire need not be drawn if fresh 
water be run in at the same time as the dirty water is coming 
out,—then, the fresh charge being packed, is lifted in, and the 
