— (12 — 



that the rain water may run alongside, but the lower edge is bevelled 

 off in such manner that no foreign material can collect there which 

 would set up decay. If, in spite of this, the wood should commence 

 to rot, the part is at once planed off, so as to arrest the injury 

 which otherwise would cause a cessation of the oil formation. If no 

 interruption takes place, the change in the coloration of the wood 

 becomes apparent already after a few days; after the lapse of a month 

 a large portion of the previously white and soft wood has been trans- 

 formed into yellowish, hard, and much more aromatic wood. The 

 Indians were led to this operation by the observation that cut-off 

 linaloe roots frequently contained so much oil, that it could be pressed 

 out with the fingers, and that trees from which branches had accidentally 

 broken off through gales, formed much oil, and had changed after many 

 years. The operation, which has the effect of converting trees poor 

 in oil into trees rich in oil, is carried out in April and September. 

 The April cut is not so effective as the September one, as the individual 

 trees in both cases only "mature" (i. e. run to sap) in the month of 

 January. In October- November the trees drop their leaves. The 

 distillation of the wood, for which only the trunk is used, is carried 

 on in the most primitive manner, chiefly from December to June. 

 The smaller distillers are partly still absolutely wild Indians who do not 

 speak Spanish; actual factories are not yet in existence, which is 

 probably due to the difficult conditions of life in the linaloe districts, 

 where vermin abounds, and where among the Indians contagious 

 diseases such as leprosy, etc. prevail. The yield of oil obtained in 

 Mexico from the wood amounts at most to 2,5 °/ . The production 

 of Puebla is said to yield annually about 4000 to 5000 kilos. The 

 oil is put up in kerosene tins containing 35 to 37 lbs., of which two 

 are packed in a case. 



Our representative had an opportunity of visiting a distilling in- 

 stallation (see illustration) belonging to Lino Castillo in Chiautla 

 (Puebla), a rather large village which can be reached from Puebla in 

 1 1 hours. Whilst Puebla is situated about 7000 feet above sea level, 

 the elevation of Chiautla is only about 1000 feet, in a very mountainous 

 district difficult of access, with scant vegetation here and there. 



The still, arranged for heating by direct fire, is, like the other 

 parts of the apparatus, with the exception of the copper conical head, 

 made from galvanised sheet iron; it is about 5 feet high, and has a 

 diameter of 45 inches. At the lower part of the still an iron tube 

 has been arranged, which is closed with a wooden plug wrapped 

 up in banana leaves, and by means of which the water can be drawn 

 off when the distillation is completed. The removable head which 

 is already provided with means for cooling, is connected by two tubes 

 with the condenser proper; pails or kerosene tins serve as receivers. 



