THE UTILIZATION OF CHERRY BY-PRODUCTS. 17 
USES OF THE FIXED OIL. 
Cherry oil should be adapted to : all purposes for which almond, 
peach, or apricot oil is used. Almond oil is used chiefly in pharma- 
ceutical preparations, and the demand is considerable. Therapeuti- 
cally, peach and apricot oils are as efficient as almond oil. Peach and 
apricot oils have recently been manufactured in California for use as 
edible oils and are said to excel olive oil in flavor and taste. 
VALUE OF THE FIXED OIL. 
The value of cherry oil would naturally depend upon its use and 
the demand for oils of this character. The importation of sweet and 
bitter almond oil for the year ended June 30, 1914, was 38,586 pounds, 
valued at $36,620. 1 The price of peach-kernel oil has ranged from 22 
cents a pound in 1913 to 45 cents in 1915. No data are available re- 
garding the extent of the importation of this oil or of apricot oil, 
although it is known that large quantities are imported annually. 
VOLATILE OIL. 
METHOD OF EXTRACTION. 
The volatile oil does not exist as such in the kernels, but is the 
result of glucosidal hydrotysis, the glucosid amygclalin reacting with 
the ferment emulsin in the presence of water. It is one of the com- 
paratively few oils which are obtained only after chemical reaction 
has taken place. 
The first step necessary in extracting the volatile oil from the 
kernels was to produce the reaction between the glucosid amygdalin 
and the ferment emulsin under conditions which would insure a 
complete formation of the oil. This was best accomplished by the 
method formulated in a previous investigation, 2 which in substance 
is as follows: To one part of the ground kernels or press cake add 
two or three parts of lukewarm water, and macerate with frequent 
agitation for about one hour, after which pass steam, under slight 
pressure, into the mixture and distill until approximately four parts 
of distillate are obtained. The volatile oil, which is heavier than 
water, will separate on the bottom of the receiving vessel. The 
upper aqueous distillate, which is saturated with the oil in solution, 
can be drawn off and subjected to distillation by the direct application 
of heat. This process can be continued until the full yield of oil is 
obtained. 
1 U. S. Department of Commerce. Foreign Commerce and Navigation of the United 
States for the Year Ending June 30, 1914, pp. 820-821. Washington, 1915. 
2 Rabak, Frank. Peach, apricot, and prune kernels as by-products of the fruit industry 
of the United States. U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 133, p. 24, 1908. 
