238 ODOKOGKAPHIA. 



Messrs. Schimmel & Co., have obtained a distillate from 

 Artemisia glacialis, "Mountain AVormwood," known in com- 

 merce as " Genepi des Alpes." One hundred kilos of the herb 

 yielded 250 grams of an essential oil of sp. gr. 0-964 at 20*^ C, which 

 solidified to the consistence of butter at 0"^ C, in consequence of it 

 containing a fat acid melting at Gl° C. The boiling point of the 

 oil was between 195° and 310° C. It had an unusually powerful 

 aromatic odour, and it is thought it may be suitable for making 

 " Benedictine " and " Chartreuse," for which purpose the herb is 

 said to be used in France. 



Artemisia Dracunculus, or " Tarragon " is a native of 

 Siberia, and cultivated in Europe. It is raised from seeds and is 

 of the easiest culture, but, like the rest of the species, it dislikes a 

 wet soil. It differs from the majority of the species in that its 

 leaves are undivided ; they are narrow and lance-shaped, of a bright 

 o-reen colour and possess a peculiar aromatic taste without the 

 characteristic bitterness of the genus. The leaves and points of 

 the shoots are used as an ingredient in pickles, and in France under 

 the name " Estragon " for many culinary purposes. The odour and 

 taste of its essential oil is something like that of Anise bark, a fact 

 which is ascribed to the presence of Mcthyl-cliavicol in both oils, a 

 body which yields anisic acid on oxidation. 



The yield of volatile oil from Artemisia Dracunculus is estimated 

 at 0-25 to 0-55 per cent., and its sp. gr. 0-92 to 0'96 at 15° C. 



Messrs. Schimmel & Co., of Leipzig, are now for the first time in 

 a position to supply Tarragon oil of their own distillation from 

 their own plants,. the cultivation of which is now established by 

 that firm on a large scale. According to their Keport of October, 

 1893, the product was distilled at three different periods during 

 the summer and autumn of this year, the resulting oils being of 

 exquisite quality. The oils obtained at these three different periods 

 were examined as regards their physical qualities, with the 

 following result : — 



Sp err. at 15° C. 0-923 : Optical rotation 4- S"" 15' in 100 m.m. tube 

 ^ „ 0-932 '; „ -f- 8° 10' 



0-906 ; „ -h 5° 45' 



whereas two commercial samples from different sources gave the 

 following results : — 



Sp. or. at 15° C. 0*944 : Optical rotation -H 2° 50' in 100 m.m. tube 

 0-935 : „ + 2° 32' 



