Notes on scientific research. 105 



proved to be particularly favourable for the growing of peppermint, and the oil industry, 

 therefore, developed here preferably well. The world's annual production of peppermint 

 and spearmint oil amounts to about 600,000 lbs. Of this quantity, America — and 

 principally Michigan — produces nearly one-half. Each acre yields about 30,000 lbs. of 

 the green herb, which when distilled furnish to the utmost 100 lbs. of oil. 



As to the origin of the peppermint industry, Kraemer's narrative runs as follows: — 

 About 75 years ago there was a Yankee pedlar named Burnett who went through the 

 country districts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont,, and New York peddling tin- 

 pans, rugs, chromos and other articles coveted by the farmer's families. The women 

 had not a great deal of money, so Burnett hit upon a scheme of exchanging herbs 

 in lieu of money for his merchandise. In the course of his travels he secured such 

 quantities of peppermint so as to distil the oil by constructing numerous stills, 

 especially in Wayne County, New York; he then gave up his peddling business and 

 devoted himself to collecting and distilling the mint. Seeing the success of Burnett, 

 a dealer H. G. Hotchkiss 1 ) became interested in the peppermint oil industry, sold the 

 oil (not touched by American drug dealers) to Hamburg realising thereby a good 

 profit, and soon started to work on an extensive scale. The farmers of Wayne County 

 followed his example, and in a short time the industry spread throughout the county. 



A preliminary statement of the general results of the 1919 census of manufactures, 

 for the essential oil industry of the United States, has been issued by the Bureau of 

 the Census, U. S. Department of Commerce 2 ). In 1919, 77 establishments (1914:103) 

 produced essential oils (not included are synthetic and artificial oils) valuing $4411775 

 {$ 1289361). In Michigan, 29 establishments were located in Michigan, 22 in Indiana, 

 9 in Connecticut, 5 in New York, 4 in New Jersey, 3 in Pensylvania, 2 in Virginia, 

 and 1 each in California, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. 



According to the Census for 1920 3 ), the total quantity of flavours produced in 

 1920 in the U. S. showed a reduction by 73 per cent, compared with the production 

 in 1919, due principally to a greatly diminished output of saccharin and coumarin. 

 New flavours reported in 1920 were benzyl acetate, benzyl cinnamate, cinnamyl pro- 

 pionate, ethyl cinnamate, methyl phthalate, and "vanilidine". 



The production of perfume materials was 99470 lbs., valued at $ 332008 (138 per cent, 

 gain compared with the value in 1919). The number of preparations increased from 

 24 to 41. The following were reported for the first time in 1920: — acetophenone, 

 anisic aldehyde, cinnamic aldehyde, diphenylmethane, ethyl benzoate, ethyl phthalate, 

 isobutylphenyl acetate, methyl benzoate, methylethyl acetate, methyl cinnamate, methyl- 

 indole, phenylpropyl acetate, styrene, isobutyl salicylate, methyl guaiacol, benzylidene 

 acetone, and j9-cresol methyl ether. 



We cull the following statements from a report 4 ) of the Experimental Station for 

 aromatic plants in Madagascar, located in Iroloina, near Tamatave, near the eastern 

 coast of the island. 



The cultivations in Nossi-Be of the ylang-ylang tree started some years ago 5 ) but 

 given up later on have been started afresh in the last years although the blossoms 

 are considered to be inferior to the Manila blossoms. Quite recently, the geranium, 

 Pelargonium roseum. Willd. has been cultivated in Madagascar, hithertho with good 



l ) H. G. H. is to-day one of the oldest American trade marks, but it comprises only crude oil. — 

 2 ) Drug and. chem. Markets 8 (1921), 1055. — 3 ) Census of dyes and coal-tar chemicals 1920, 49. — *) As per 

 Heil- und Qewiirzpjtanzen 4t (1921), 126. — B ) Cf. Report October 1909, 124. 



