348 
rHE TROPICAL AQRICULTURtST. [Novemder 2, 1891. 
height of about 30 inchoR, and nearly an inch thick- 
ness ill the stem. Under these conditions the oil 
is produced in much greater abundance, but tho 
quality is sensibly infonor. 
In my recent article on “Lavendor” I pointed 
out the immediate effect of a moist soil on tlio 
secretions of a plant wliicli prefers a diT soil. The 
above remarks, which 1 translate from filondel, not 
only continn tho observations of my own short 
experience, but they are in accord with the 
observations of Ijiunous, 
This irrigation process is now so general that for 
one hectare of land cultivated “ dry/’ 2t)0 hectares 
will be found “ irrigated." Tho very superior pi'oduct 
of the “dry" method is rarely sold Hopanitel}'. but 
U generally mixed with common oil (called “ Gera- 
nium irrigud") to ameliorate the quality. 
Ordinary stills are used for tho distillation, which 
is carried on during the whole time of each harieat. 
It is estimated that 300 kilos, of theplantyiekl 1 kilo, of 
oil. “The plant is gathered a little before the opening 
of its flowers, when tho lemon-like odour which it 
at first ^oasosKes gives place to tho odour of rose 
—this critical point is recogHisablo by tho loaves be- 
ginning to turn yellow. The oil is formed entirely 
in the loaves and all tho green parts of the plant, 
the petals yio’cling no odorous product whatever, but 
in order to waste no time in detaching tlio flowers 
they are put in with the branches." The odour 
which maybe thought to lie perceived in thefiower 
is simply due to the secreting organs in tho calyx 
and peduncle. The pelargonium is also cultivated and 
distilled in other counvies: in 8pain (near Valencia), 
Italy, Corsica, tho Island of Jlourbon, and in 
Provence. Tho Spanish oil is considered tho finest 
(pfobably owing to tho fact that tho plantations are 
not “ irrigatod") ; tho plant which i)roduccH it is not 
known with certainty, but it Is said to bo tliesame 
as tho Algerian plant. The oil from Provence ranks 
equally as regards quality with tho Spanish ; a 
“superfine" oil is also manufactured in Provence by 
adding rose petals to the still. Tlie Corsican oil is 
only exported in small quantities, but the Bourbon pro- 
duction annually increases in importance. Oil of 
pelargonium should be perfectly soluble in all port or- 
fcions in aloohol of 70 per cent.(A) There are other 
pjlargoniuma ofa rose odour, as /*. ovavrofensy Alton. (0 
The HhuM aivmaticay Alton, or fragrant Sumach, has 
boon described by Harper (in Amenrau Jonvml of 
Pharmacy) fts possessing an odour similar to rose 
g eranium. An artificial oil of pelargonium was pro- 
uced some years ago in Tjondon by a German chemist, 
but tho method of production wTts not, that I am 
aware of, disclosed. The discoverer presented me 
with a sample, w'hich uow, after about twelve years, 
compares very favourably with a sample of Provence 
oil of pelargonium put naido with it. The first has 
developed a faint odour of chloroform; the second 
has turned rancid, probably owing to decomposition 
of a fixed oil adulterated with it. 
There are several artificially prepared li(jiiids known 
in chomiatiy, possessing an odour somewhat like 
pelargonium and rosu, such as citronellyl alcohol, 
salicylate of ninmoniuiu, and heiizoato of phenyl. 
Those oompounda are flomewhat troublesome to make, 
and may be more expeiiMivo than the natural oils; 
also they may bo unstable and apt to decompose by 
admixture with other bodies for perfumery purposes; 
bat yet they ore suggestive, and an exact knowledge of 
the composition of tho natural oils may lead up to a 
method of producing them synthetically.— CAmiV 
and Ih-mjfiiof, 
IKKIGATIOX GOLONIKS IX AUSTUALIA, 
By Mr. C. U. Pai.mkr, Execttivk Kncunkhr, 
N.-W. J‘., Jrruiatiom Dkrautmknt. 
I have been for years on the look out for an opening 
in a good climate w'liere my sons can bo given a good 
» Jailard dc Pharm.y xx\ii. p* 205. 
t L Tloritior’fi Gcranialoina, t. 17. 
start, and f may spend (he evening of life in profit- 
able light work and pleasant surroundings. By tho 
advico of an eminent liydraulic ongineor, who has a 
8Uc<*ossfnl record in both Australia and Kurope, I 
went up the river Murray and looked at the ('haffey 
iri’igation colonies recently started at Mildura (in 
Victoina) and Kenmark (in South Australia). My 
friend is a man of very wide experience, and was greatly 
impressed ivith tho niatorial and social advantages ob- 
tained bv settlers in those colonics. I wont up a sceptic 
and inefined to look upon the whole thing asagigantic 
swindle, but careful examination on tlio spot con- 
vinced mo, as it convinced my friend, that the scheme 
is sound in every detail, and tliosc wlio join in it 
will get high pvfiiits and a most pleasant social life. 
Messrs. Ghuffey (George and ^V. 11.) arc Canadians 
who emigrated to the States many years ago; they 
gained experience and made money in the iirigation 
colony of Hiverside, S. California, then founded and 
made more money in tho irrigation colony of hUti- 
wanda, and again in Ontario, both in San Bernardius, 
S. California. While working Ontario their attention 
was invited to Australia, and they came out here, 
prospected the country, obtained large concessions 
ironi the GovornmenU of Victoria and South Australiii, 
and started Mildura in IW and Kenmark in 1HS<). 
Both colonies are on. the M uiTay, the area conceded 
for each scttlemont amounts to S.'iO.tKfO acres, of 
which about 170,000 is irrigable in each case; tho 
colonies ore within 250 miles of tho sea in a direct 
line, situated in south latitude 31^, and liave a very 
large proportion of oxceodiiiLdy richland most suitable 
for inigation. The rainfall is as a rule just under 
10 inches. The climate i.s absolutely clnvrniing for 
nine months, and hot for three months; Init tho heat 
is dry and invigorating, and at its worst is like tho 
early hot weather of the N.-W. V. in April. Settlers 
there are perfectly satisfied with their climate, and 
go about in straw and felt hats in their hottest 
weather. Hero, as elsewhere in Soutliern Ans(i*alia, 
the heat makes itself felt, but docs no injury, and the 
Him does not penetrate as it does in India. 
Tho .schemes are now made into limited companies, 
in which Messrs. Clhoffey have a preponderance of 
power, and manage all affairs in consultation witli a 
board of directors, Tho metliod worked on is to lay 
out a thousand-acro township of one-eighth aero 
blocks, and around it a ring of 2i-acre villa sites, and 
then lay out the remainder of the country in U)-acro 
fruit blocks; every fruit block has road frontage of 
fifiO links (-l,3.5jfeet) and dcptli of l,r»15 links (I,(K)0 foot). 
Two main avenues are laid out and numerous roads; 
pumping engines of enormous power erected, canals 
and distributaries or pipes laid evcrywliero, and as 
soon as any land is aoltl water is brought up to tlio 
Inyhcsf co}'iter of every 10-acro block, or laid on in 
pipes to every townsliip and villa block. The com- 
pany then offers the whole for sale, the townsliip lots 
at X25 each, the villa sites at -€liK) each, tho lO-am-e 
fruit blocks at t*2(H) per Idock, less per cent for 
cash down. The townshii) lots and villa sites have a 
separate house supply water-service: the fruit blocks 
have irrigation water-supply pumping plant on a very 
largo scale. Township ami villa lost are nearly all 
sold; they carry with them shares in their own water 
supply plant. Fruit blocks are for sale in large num- 
bers. A purchaser may buy one Idock, or up to eight 
blocks; blit not Igrr than one Mock nor more tJian 
eight can be sold to one person. Of course a inaa 
may buy eight blocks for nimsolf and eight more for 
each member of his family, hut it would not pay 
him to do so, because no method has yet been foiinil 
of profitably carrj'ing on iufevse cnltnrc on a large scale. 
In practice 40 acres is about the area a man can really 
work to the best profit. Tw'o partners can Iniy a 
single block and divide it. If a man lias sons coming 
on ho can profitably take HO acres or more. 
Ample water rights have been seemed from tho 
GoverninontR, and the irrigation work of each colony 
is throwii into the form of Irrigation Companies. 
Messj's. Chaffey eroct pumps and all plantand perform 
tlie work, hut each buyer of land receives ono fully 
paid-up share in his Irrigation Company (Mildura 
irrigation Company or Kenmark Irrigation Company) 
