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valued on account of a high content of aromatic substances; but the 

 plant requires a comparatively rich soil and much care, as it has to 

 be transplanted frequently. The "lanabatu" gives a smaller yield of 

 oil, which is less aromatic, and consequently of less value; on 

 the other hand, the plant thrives in a poor soil and does not require 

 transplanting. As the bulk of the oil produced in Ceylon originates 

 from "lanabatu", it is in Joyasuriya's opinion obvious that Ceylon 

 citronella oil has a smaller commercial value than Java and Singapore 

 citronella oil. This can in the author's opinion only be altered when 

 "mahapangiri" is grown in Ceylon. In order to carry through such a 

 radical measure which is necessary to reinstate the once flourishing 

 industry, the Government should establish plantations of the better 

 variety, and from these issue plants to the inhabitants on favourable 

 terms. 



Joyasuriya recommends for the cultivation that the plants should 

 be fairly wide apart, say about 15000 per acre, and more attention 

 should be paid to the drainage and the fertilisation of the soil, and 

 also to the weeding. As it sometimes happens at the time of the 

 rice harvest that plantations of citronella grass go entirely or partly 

 to waste owing to the lack of cheap labour, it is advisable to introduce 

 mowing machines so as to reduce the cost of production. For the 

 distillation the freshly cut grass is not used, as it yields an oil with 

 an unpleasant odour, but well-dried grass giving a pleasantly-smelling 

 oil; when drying the grass, great care should be taken to prevent 

 fermentation or rotting. The grass is cut either 4 or only 3 times 

 annually; the latter is to be preferred. The yield of oil increases 

 up to the third year of the plantation, and amounts to about 7 1 lbs. 

 3 ozs. per acre annually. After the third year the yield of oil 

 diminishes constantly, although the grass looks very well. 



The meteorological conditions have also a considerable influence 

 on citronella grass. In the less highly situated districts, a good oil 

 is obtained and a larger yield than the same plant would give at 

 greater altitudes. Although Joyasuriya's observations are not com- 

 plete, he obtained as a rule in higher - situated districts an inferior 

 quality and smaller quantity of oil, which was not due to unfavourable 

 conditions of the soil. 



According to Joyasuriya's experience, adulterations are not re- 

 sponsible for the low price of Ceylon citronella oil; he seeks the cause 

 in the inferior quality of the oil from the variety cultivated which 

 yields an oil of less value, and also in over-production of oil. Contrary 

 to this, the Java and Singapore oils fetch higher prices, as they are 

 of better quality, due to the superiority of the variety of grass. If 

 therefore it is desired to place the Ceylon oil and the other oils on 

 an equal footing, it will be necessary to cultivate the better variety. 



