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LEMON GRASS OIL. 
Lemon grass oil, distilled from the grass known as Andropogon 
citratus , was formerly one of the few peculiar Singapore pro - 
ducts. Ceylon and Singapore held the market. Ceylon oil, how- 
ever, says the Chemist and Druggist, has quite left the market, 
and little comes from Singapore. In January, there was a threat- 
ened famine of the oil in England, and prices would have risen 
very high had not unexpected supplies arrived from Cochm in 
Malabar. It is much to be regretted that an important manu- 
facture Hike this should be lost to the Straits, and it is all the 
more remarkable since at the time that the product was com- 
manding an unusually high price the Singapore supply was 
dwindling away. A few years ago Lemon grass oil was consi- 
dered only fit for scenting the cheapest hair oils and soaps, ana 
was priced at I \d. to i \d, per oz., but it was discovered that it 
contains a larger proportion of citral (the odorous principal o 
oil of lemon) than any other oil, viz., 75 per cent., as against 7 
per cent, in lemon oil, and it is now employed in the manufac- 
ture of Ionone or Artificial Violet. Lemon grass oil m 1896-1897 
went up from 2 \d. per oz. to 8^., and is now 10 d. per oz. this 
high price has produced considerable adulteration, and it is point- 
ed out that should lemon grass oil go say to 1-6 per oz. it wou 
perhaps pay to make citral from geramol, a body existing m oil 
of geranium and otto of roses. The export to London amoun - 
ed to 3,000 cases, each case containing from 21 to 23 oz. so that 
the value of the export for the year taking an average was 
ii 443. There certainly seems room for more distillation 
essential oils here. Citronella still holds a very fair price Veti- 
ver can easily be grown and should pay. Ca]uputi, 
common Gelam tree would need no cultivation, as Molucca 
could supply an unlimited quantity. Patchouli oil needs no 
recommendation, the dried leaves being now higher m P rl ^ e tl 
usual, while Cananga, Ngai camphor (Blumea balsamifera), 
Basil and Champaca flowers would certainly be worth the at 
tention of the distillers. 
CITRONELLA OIL. 
Since writing the above note on Lemon Grass Oil, an impor- 
tant paper on Citronella has appeared in the Chemist and Drug- 
gist of Nov. 12, 1898. Citronella oil is used almost wholly as a 
perfume for toilet soaps and the consumption is increasing every 
year. Ceylon exports this year 1,174,205 lbs. an area ° 
from 40 to 50 thousand acres. The grass grows on the hillsides 
and requires practically no attention until the halves s 
round. There are two harvests— one in July and August, an 
the other in December to February. It is cut an un Y 
women and taken to the distillery, a plan of w T hic , \ ery p 
in structure, is given. 
