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OILS AND FATS. 



Citronelia and Lemon Grass in Ceylon. 



By Herbert Wright. 



I have, on a previous occasion, made some remarks on the subject of 

 Citronelia and Lemon Grass in Ceylon, and to-day I propose to say a few words 

 regarding the progress of our experiments with Citronelia. In the first place it is 

 pleasant to be able to record the assistance which has been given by Mr. Jowitt of 

 Bandarawella, Mr. R. Jackson, Sita-Eliya, and Mr. Thomas in the Central Province ; 

 these gentlemen have established plots of Citronelia and Lemon grass at various 

 elevations and our series of co-operative experiments being now complete we may 

 hope to obtain reliable information on the growth of these grasses grown 2,000 feet 

 at Peradeniya, to 7,000 feet on the Horton Plains. 



Paper from Ceylon Grasses. 



Satisfactory progress has also been made, through Mr. Halbert in England, 

 in connection with the manufacture of paper from the glass after the oil has been 

 extracted ; and also from the wild Maana grass, so common in many parts of the Island. 

 One English firm has reported to the effect that the material is most satisfactory and 

 another firm has asked for sample lots, 3 tons in weight, in order that the experiment 

 may be carried out on a commercial scale. I have recently despatched one ton of the 

 grass, and it is encouraging to know that Messrs. Tarrant & Co., Colombo, are able to 

 bale the material at cheap rates, and that the home firms are not only willing but 

 anxious to pay for the cost of collecting and baling the grass in large quantities. 

 By the co-operation of firms in Colombo and England, I think we may confidently 

 look forward to an accurate determination of the value of Maana and Citronelia 

 grass for paper manufacture. 



investigations undertaken. 

 But the most important work which has been undertaken is in relation to the 

 yield and value of the unadulterated oil. It will be remembered that from May 1902, 

 experiments have been carried on at Peradeniya and we are now in possession of 

 information regarding the methods of cultivation, the yields obtainable at an eleva- 

 tion of 2,000 feet, the physical and chemical properties of the soils suitable for its 

 cultivation, and the botauical and chemical characters of the grass itself. Obviously 

 the one thing required to be done was to place the oil on the London market with a 

 guarantee, from Government, that the extraction was absolutely pure. This has 

 been done through the agency of Messrs. Clarke, Young & Co., Colombo, and thanks 

 to them, and also to Messrs. C. P. Hayley & Co., of Galle, some very valuable reports 

 have been obtained. I do not propose to trouble you with these reports in detail 

 as the whole of the information is about to be published in the Circulars and Annals 

 of Botany, issued from Peradeniya. Furthermore, great interest has been aroused 

 among London firms and chemists and Messrs. Sage & Harrison have already 

 published some of their views on the oils, exported from Peradeniya, in the "Chemist 

 and Druggist," 



standard TESTS. 



There are a few points which may be dwelt upon, and the first is in regard to 

 the Standard required by the markets in England and New York. When Citronelia 

 oil is being valued it usually has to undergo a chemical examination, Schimmel's 

 test being the one applied. If the oil will not pass this test, it is pronounced by the 



