JAMAICA. 



BULLETIN 



OF THE 



BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



New Series.] MAY, 1895. ^ PartS 



DISTILLING THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF LIMES. 



Hon. Colonial Secretary to Director of Public Gardens, fyc. 



28th Febry., 1895. 



Sir, 



I am desired by the Governor to enclose for your information and for 

 publication in the Bulletin, a copy of a report by Major Blagrove of 

 his experiment in distilling the essential oil of limes. 



■ I have, &c. 



J. Allwood, 

 Asst. Colonial Secretary. 



Major Blagrove to Hon. Colonial Secretary. 



Orange Valley, Brown's Town, 18th February, 1895. 



Sir, 



I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 13th 

 instant and beg to express my thanks to the Governor for according" 

 permission to run an experimental still, on condition that a report be 

 furnished on the result of same. 



The experiment was somewhat hastily carried out, but I was anxious 

 to superintend it personally before leaving the Island on Tuesday next. 



I regret to add that an accident to the still which necessitated 

 " blowing off" just at the time the distillate commenced to run, inter- 

 fered somewhat with the result of the experiment which in most re- 

 spects, I consider to be a success. 



The experiment was conducted as follows : — ■ 



The still was charged with 650 gallons lime juice and 150 gallons 

 water, the latter had to be added as it was considered necessary to 

 charge up to 800 gallons to avoid burning, and the lime crop being now 

 over, I was unable to obtain the requisite amount of juice. 



The retort was charged with water only. The lime juice had not 

 been clarified or strained in any way. 



