PERFUMES: THEIR SOURCE AND EXTRACTION. 



135 



(so-called Verdetti) which obtain rather high prices in the foreign markets, 

 and particularly in London. 



The natural crop of this tree, however, is from December until March 

 and April, and for the manufacturing of lemon oil only this crop is of 

 interest and importance. 



By far the larger number of lemons are shipped abroad to the 

 principal markets of the world, where one may frequently see thousands 

 of boxes arrive at a time. The rest of the fruit is employed in the 

 manufacture of citrate of lime and of essential oil, the former out of the 

 pulp and juice, and the latter out of the peel, which contains this oil in 

 the outer pores. These two industries are closely connected with each 

 other, and are still rural industries in the hands of the peasants in the 

 villages which are located in the midst of the orchards. The manufacture 

 of lemon oil begins in November, when the fruit is still green and not 

 yet ripe. 



During the day numerous peasants enter the orchards and pluck as 

 many of the lemons as will suffice for the manufacture the next day. 

 The lemons are brought into the factories and early in the morning 

 (in some parts even at midnight) the processes of manufacture will 

 begin. Large numbers of girls cut the lemons to separate the peel 

 from the pulp. 



Until a few years ago only one method was used in cutting the peel 

 off the pulp, viz. to cut it off in three slices, the so-called spugiia 

 process ; but latterly a new method is taking its place, viz. of cutting 

 the fruit in two and taking the pulp out of the two halves by means of a 

 sharp spoon — the scorzetta process. The former method gives a stronger 

 essence, while the latter method gives a larger yield of essence, and has 

 the advantage of leaving the peel in such a shape that it can be used for 

 " salted peels." 



The peels separated in one or the other way from the pulp are now 

 put for about twelve hours into a bath of water to soften them, after 

 which they are brought into the pressing-room. Male labourers only 

 are employed in this hard work. Sitting on little stools, close to large 

 baskets containing the peels, they hold in their left hands large sponges 

 into which they press the oil out of the peels with the right hand. 



In this condition the oil contains a good deal of foreign matter such 

 as water, dust, &c., which settles at the bottom of the receptacles ; the oil 

 is then collected in big copper jars and shipped by rail to Messina, which 

 is the centre of this trade ; but the oil has still to undergo a careful 

 filtering process in the warehouses of the exporters before it is fit for 

 shipment. 



Besides this hand-pressing method of oil-manufacturing, there is a 

 mechanical way, which, however, is used only by very few manufacturers, 

 as it is rather expensive. An ingenious machine cuts the lemon length- 

 wise in two, takes out the pulp, and presses the peel against some 

 sponges, which absorb the oil from the pores, from which it drops into 

 a receptacle below. The entire quantity of oil gained by this method is 

 rather insignificant in comparison with that gained by the old-fashioned 

 hand-pressing method. 



The yield of the lemons differs widely according to the month of 



