COMMEECIAL PRODUCTION OF LEMON-GRASS OIL. 7 
showed that 1.2 gram of oil was dissolved in each gallon of water, a 
quantity too small to make its recovery profitable. Examination of 
this recovered oil showed its characteristics to be practically identical 
with the oil distilled directly from the herb. 
VARIETIES. 
During the many years that lemon grass has been cultivated a great 
variety of forms of the plant has been developed. Some years ago 
an attempt was made to divide the old species into two separate 
species, basing the descriptions partially on the character of the oil 
secured from the two sorts. In the essential-oil trade it long has been 
recognized that there is a wide difference in the characteristics of 
lemon-grass oils from different regions. It is not the purpose of this 
paper, however, to discuss any questions of systematic relationship 
or nomenclature of the plant, but since a wide difference has been 
found in the commercial value of the strains under experimental 
cultivation, a brief discussion of these will be of interest to the pros- 
pective grower. 
During the course of the experiments, plants were obtained from a 
number of sources, and altogether 13 different strains have been 
tested. Following are the sources of the various strains : 
1. Secured from a nursery in Florida. The original stock was from 
Havana. 
2. A local form sold in the Florida nursery trade. 
3. Isle of Pines. 
4. Porto Rico. 
5. Cochin China. 
6. Ceylon. 
7. Mexico. 
8. India. 
9. India. 
10. 11, and 12. Origin unknown. 
13. Ceylon. 
These 13 strains fall into the following classes as regards growth 
characteristics : 
(1) The West Indian type, represented by Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4. The plants are 2h to 3 
feet high, with lax, drooping leaves and of light color. 
(2) The East Indian type, represented by Nos. 5, 8, and 9. The plants are 3| to 4 
feet high and erect. The leaves are rather erect and more scabrous than the West 
Indian form. 
(3) The Mexican form, represented by No. 7. This is a weak form, very drooping 
in habit, with lax leaves and very light in color. 
No. 6 has the typical West Indian appearance, but is markedly 
different in oil yield. No. 13 has the typical East Indian appearance, 
except the color, which is very light, almost yellowish. Nos. 10, 11 7 
and 12 are of the approved East Indian type. 
