NEW PHILIPPINE ESSENTIAL OILS. 



By Benjamin T. Brooks. 

 (From the Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Bureau of Science, Manila, P. I.) 



INTRODUCTION. 



Ylang-ylang oil, extracted from Canangium odoratum (L.) BailL, is 

 the onty essential oil at the present time exported from the Philippines 

 in large quantities. However, the researches of R. F. Baeon,^ carried out 

 in the chemical laboratory of the Bureau of Science have shown that 

 other essential oils undoubtedly can profitably be produced in these 

 Islands. The absence of a suitable botanical garden, where data on the 

 cultivation of plants yielding essential oils can be obtained, is a serious 

 handicap to more extended investigations in this line. Many data, neces- 

 sary as they are from a commercial standpoint, are not to be had in 

 many cases, or else the desired information has been obtained by private 

 individuals at their own expense. 



The present paper contributes some information conceming certain 

 new essential oils and several others, well known, which, until now, have 

 not been reported from the Philippines. 



THE ESSKKTIAL OIL OF JIICHEMA CHAMPACA L. 



Michelia champaca L. is cultivated either from seeds or cuttings. It 

 appears to require very careful attention. However, Mr. John C. Mehan, 

 of the department of streets and parks of the city of Manila, has gro^^^l 

 both seeds and cuttings with great success. If grown from seed, the 

 plants should be sprouted in sand, otherwise there is great danger that 

 the seeds may rot. Mr. ^lelian lias successfull}' raised over 90 per cent 

 of tlie cuttings from this variety. It also seems inadvisable to transplant 

 the seedlings, according to the experience of Mr. George Worcester, of 

 Cabanatuan. The method of marcottage, which is very successful in the 

 case of white champaca, Michelia longifolia Bl., does not appear to give 

 satisfactory results with the species in question. 



'Jlie flowering season during tlie year 1910 lasted from about the 

 middle of June until the latter part of October. This season probably 

 was prolonged slightly, owing to the comparative scarcity of rains during 

 this time, whicli ordinarily is the period of heavy rainfall. 



In a recent bulletin of tlie firm of Eoure-Bertrand Fils,^ it is stated that 



'This Journal, Sec. A (1908), 3, 49, 65; (1909), 4, 93: (1910), 5, 257. 

 = Bulletin of Ron re- Bert rand Fils (1909), 1, 26. 

 3.33 



