PERFUMES 257 



occurs in wide distribution in South America. Venezuela is 

 the source of nearly all the tonka beans of commerce. The 

 pods are collected and dried, after which the beans are removed 

 and soaked in 65 per cent, alcohol for 6 to 8 hours. The beans 

 are then dried again. In the process of drying the beans 

 become frosted or coated upon the outside by the deposition 

 of the crystalline volatile resin on the surface of the bean. 

 For the purpose of increasing the amount of frosting on 

 the surface of the beans sugar is added to the alcohol. Occa- 

 sionally, rum is employed for partly saturating the beans 

 before they are finally dried for the market. The tonka bean 

 is used for scenting tobacco and snuff and in the preparation 

 of fumigating powders, perfumery, sachet powders, and in 

 confectionery as a substitute for vanilla. About 60,000 pounds 

 of tonka beans are exported annually from Venezuela. 



CASSIE 



Cassie is the name which has been given to the perfume 

 obtained from a leguminous shrub, Acacia farnesiana, origi- 

 nally native to West Indies but now occurring throughout the 

 Tropics. In many tropical countries the shrub becomes an an- 

 noyance or veritable pest on account of its progressive habit 

 of spreading. This is notably true in Hawaii and Texas. The 

 cassie is cultivated as a source of perfume, particularly in 

 France, India, and Algeria. The shrub attains a height of 4 

 to 20 feet and bears graceful bi-pinnate leaves and small globu- 

 lar heads of yellow flowers. The harvesting of the flowers is 

 rendered somewhat difficult by the dense branching of the 

 bushes and the numerous spines on the branches. In Hawaii, 

 this bush is known as klu. In India 2 pounds of flowers per 

 tree is considered a satisfactory yield. In Algeria, 1,000 

 pounds of flowers per acre are commonly obtained, while in 

 France, under cultivation, a yield of 5,000 pounds of flowers 

 per acre has been secured. The flowers are best when picked 



