LAVANDULA 



LAVANGA 



1829 



BB. Li's. densely woolly. 



lanata, Boiss. Differs also from the preceding in 

 having much longer and less crowded spikes. Spain. It 

 grows 1-2 ft. high and needs winter protectioin in N. J. 



AA. spike dense: upper floral Ivs. sterile, coinose. 



B. Lvs. entire. 



Stdechas, Linn. Shrub, 2-3 ft. high: lvs. tomentose, 



about 32'n- long: .spikes .short-peduncled, densely 



comose; fis. dark purple. Medit. region. Cult, in S.Calif. 



BB. Lvs. pinnate-dentate. 



dentata, Linn. Lvs. pubescent: spikes long-pedun- 

 cled; fls. deep purple. Medit. region. B.M. 400. — 

 Intro. 1900 by PVanceschi. 



multiflda, Linn. Cut-leaved Lavender. Herba^ 

 ceous biennial, evergreen, 1-2 ft. high: lower lvs. 

 petioled, upper sessile; Ifts. decu.ssately pinnatifid, 

 hoary : sijike simple, square, spiral: fl.-lvs. ovate, nerved, 

 villous: fls. lilac. Calabria and Canary Isls. — Prop, by 

 seed. Summer to fall. Not widely cult. Offered in 

 ^- Calif. WiLHELM Miller. 



A. C. HoTTES.f 



Cultivation of lavender. (M. G. Kains.) 



In the eastern United States, lavender is grown in but 

 few gardens, but in California, where climatic and soil 

 conditions seem favorable, it is more commonly planted, 

 although not on a commercial scale. The dry soil of 

 that state and the light limestone soil of the Black Belt 

 of Alabama and adjacent states seem to be most 

 inviting to this industry. 



The generic name is derived from the ancient use of 

 its flowers and leaves in bath perfumery. The flowers 

 long retain their strong fragrant odor after drying, and 

 upon distillation yield a lemon-yellow very fluid oil of 

 aromatic, bitterish, burning taste. Though this is offi- 

 cinally credited with stimulant and tonic properties, it 

 is seldom administered in the pure state. Its chief uses 

 are in the manufacture of perfumery, aromatic vinegar 

 and lavender water, an alcoholic solution of the oil and 

 other odorous substances. For these purposes, English 

 oil has long commanded the highest price, but recently 

 the Frencn product has been claimed superior. Though 

 aU parts of the plant are aromatic, and both leaves and 

 flower-stems are used in oil manufacture, oil obtained in 

 the first half hour of distillation from flowers alone is 

 much superior to the later distillate and also to the oil 

 obtained from a mixture of flowers and stems. These 

 grades, and also the highly valued product of very dry 

 seasons, are always sold separately. 



Lavender is best propagated by cuttings of one sea- 

 son's growth taken with a heel of older wood, in late 

 autumn or early spring. When set 3 to 4 inches asunder 

 in rather moist soil and shaded, they strike more readily 

 and produce more symmetrical plants than older wood. 

 Seed does not propagate desired varieties, and division 

 is not advised, since plants so obtained are more sus- 

 ceptible to disease than those made from young-wood 

 cuttings. After danger of7rost, the one-year-old plants 

 are set 4 feet asunder in rows 6 feet apait, running north 

 and south. Closer planting and the hedge-method yield 

 a smaller quantity of bloom. Drj', light, calcareous, 

 even stony soils upon sites where sun and air are unim- 

 peded by trees, favor this plant. Upon such fewer are 

 injured by frost, and the oil is of superior quality. In 

 moist soil so much water enters the plant as to enfeeble 

 it, and upon rich lands yield and quality both suffer. 

 Light fertilizing with stable-manure or ashes turned 

 under in autumn, and spring harrowing, are advised. 

 During the first year in the field the plants should be 

 clipped to prevent flowering and to encourage stocki- 

 ness. Vigorous plants so treated may grow to a height 

 and a diameter of 5 feet, and when two to four years old 

 produce secondary bloom - spikes after the general 



harvest, whicli usually occurs in early August. Plan- 

 tations should be destroyed when four to six years old 

 and the land rested with other crops before setting to 

 lavender again. Cutting in clear weather, in early 

 blossom, before the dew is off and at once distilling 

 give best results; but no delay should occur. Cutting 

 in wet weather, in the heat of the day, holding blos- 

 soms long before distilling and exposing them to the 

 sun after cutting result in serious losses. One pound of 

 flowers yields from one-half to one draclim of oil, and an 

 acre from two to twenty-five pounds. The annual out- 

 put of the stills of Grasse, France, is from 80,000 to 

 100,000 kilogranmies. 



"Oil of spike," obtained from a broad-leaved, much 

 whiter and smaller species (L. Spica), is less fragrant 



2116. Laratera trimestris. (X'A) 



than true lavenrler oil, being analogous to oil of tur- 

 pentine, with which it is often adulterated. It sug- 

 gests the odor of rancid coconut oil. Officinally, it is 

 credited with carminative and stimulant properties, 

 and has been found useful in nervous languor and head- 

 ache. It is used by artists in the manufacture of var- 

 nishes, by porcelain painters, and to a small extent in 

 perfumei-y, mainlj- ;is an adulterant. From 20,000 to 

 2.5,000 kilogrammes are annually produced at Gnvsse. 

 See also "Culinary Herbs" by M. G. Kains, 1912. 



LAVANGA (from the Bengal name). Sometimes 

 WTitten Luvunga. Rutacea; tribe ('itre;e. LAVANfiA- 

 LATA. Climbing shrubs, distantly related to the orange. 



Leaves alternate, trifolioliatc, with long wingless 

 petioles; Ifts. with 7notile petiolules; spines axillary, 

 strong, recurved: fls. in axillary clusters, 4-5-merous; 

 stamens twice as many as the petals; anthers linear; 

 ovary 3-, 4- or .^-celled with 2 superposed ovules in 

 each cell: fr. oval or oblong, resincius within (without 

 pulp vesicles) and having a thick oily lemon-like peel. 

 — Several .species art; known, occurring in India, the 

 Malayan Archip(^lago and CJochin-China. These plants 



