CYMBOPOGON 



MARTINI 



Rusa 



PERFUME-YIELDING GRASSES 



Finest Quality. 



Purification. 



Adulteration. 



Madras. 



Consigned to 

 Bombay. 



Increased 

 Production of 

 High Quality. 



Properties. 



Adulterations. 



Uses. 



Mixed with Eose 

 Oil. 



tillate (or fluid obtained from the condenser) was decanted on cooling, 

 the water being allowed to strain off slowly, and thrown away, and thus 

 not used a second time as in Khandesh. But before decanting, the owner 

 skimmed off with a feather certain globules of oil that had formed on 

 the surface. This was said to be the finest and most highly valued oil, 

 and though troublesome it was profitable to remove it by itself even 

 although only a few drops were obtained from each distillate. After 

 the greater proportion of the water had been strained off, the mixed oil 

 and water was placed in a clear glass bottle, and, the hand being held 

 against the mouth, it was inverted. The water was then allowed to 

 gradually escape, and the oil thus purified. It is at first dirty brown in 

 colour, but clears as it is kept. According to the estimate made by me 

 on the spot, from the data furnished by the owner of the distillery, the 

 cost of working each still, including labour, rent of land, hire of apparatus, 

 etc., would be Rs. 1-12 and the net profit Rs. 1-10, even were the oil sold 

 pure ; but it is largely adulterated with kerosene oil. It is sold at about 

 Rs. 9 a seer (2 Ib.) I was told that Jamod, in Akola, had the best name 

 of all the localities in Berar for its rusa oil. 



Madras. Mention has been made in the concluding remarks under 

 C. polyneuros (above) of a new supply of what would appear palmarosa 

 oil having been organised in South India. But let it be here repeated 

 that Stapf regards that as a distinct species, and, therefore, very possibly 

 the oil may have distinctive properties of its own, though classed in trade 

 as a quality of rusa or in some cases of lemon-grass. The subject will be 

 found dealt with more fully below under the trade of lemon-grass C. 

 fleocuosus. Instead of being exported from Cochin along with the 

 lemon-grass oil, this is conveyed to Bombay and shipped from there to 

 Europe and America, in direct competition with the Khandesh and Nimar 

 oils. This has so materially increased the supply that a serious decline 

 in the price paid has taken place. Schimmel & Co. (Semi-Ann. Rept., 

 May 1904, 54) say, " The producing districts have been extended so largely, 

 that it is difficult to arrive at a proper estimate of the market, and it is 

 an extremely difficult matter whether to advise buying at present low 

 prices or not." " An excellent selection of qualities of so-called East 

 Indian geranium and palmarosa oil of the last harvest is available, and 

 is quoted lower than at almost any previous time." It seems fairly certain 

 that the increased production and high-class degree of oils offered is the 

 direct result of the South Indian supply, and of the endeavours of the 

 Forest Department in the Central Provinces. 



Properties and Uses of Rasa. According to Gildemeister and Hoff- 

 mann (Volatile Oils, 281-5, 433-4), the chemical examination of Rusa oil led 

 to the discovery of geraniol, which is present in good qualities to the extent 

 of 76 to 93 per cent., the greater proportion in a free state. Of citronella, 

 if present at all, there are traces only. It is thus an oil widely different 

 from that obtained from C. Nardus, the citronella. It is a light-coloured 

 oil, soluble in three or more parts of 70 per cent, alcohol. Its saponification 

 number lies between 20 and 40, but after acetylisation between 230 

 and 270. It is frequently adulterated with various fatty oils, as also 

 with turpentine and kerosene, which latter lowers the specific gravity 

 while the fatty oils raise it. 



It is chiefly used for admixture with rose oil, and, since it does not 

 solidify by cold, it prevents the crystallisation of the rose oil. Sawer 



454 



