336 
In writing this I have drawn to a large extent on the best work 
on the subject, Sawer’s Odorographia, which gives a full account 
of the plants used in perfumery and the methods of extracting the 
perfumes. The following is a list of essential oil-producing plants 
from our region. It of course does not include the heavy oils such 
as that of coco-nut, castor oil or tilseed, which belong to an en- 
tirely different class of oils: — . 
Ferns. — The large elephant fern Angwptens evecta, c ommon 
in our woods is said by Maiden (Useful Native plants of Australia) 
to supply an aromatic oil used in the South Sea Islands for scent- 
ing coco-nut oil. t , 
Polvpodiu phymatodes, L.— One of our commonest ferns oc- 
curring on trees and on the ground in open country especially 
near the sea, is also said to be used in the same way. This fein 
dried gives out a scent of new-mown hay, and is used here tor 
scenting clothes. . A quantity sent to Dr. GreSHOFF was examined 
by him and reported to contain Coumarin, the aromatic principle 
of the Tonkin Bean. . ' T . D 
Pandanaceee . — The flowers of Pandanus fascicular is, Lam. [P. 
odoratissimus , L.) are used for a scent in India, being macerated in 
til-seed oil. They have a very strong and powerful odour 1 he 
plant is very common along our sea coasts and often planted 
in villages, where the leaves are used for making mats. I he 
leaves of Pandanus laevis , Rumph. “Pandan Jelinkeh are used 
often for scent by Malays. They have a fruit and peculiar odour 
and are used cut up fine with rose water and scraped sandalwood 
to make a kind of pot-pourri used at marriages. They are also 
boiled with rice in order to give it a scent. 
Grass-oils. — Lemon grass-oil, from Andropogon citratus , Dc, has 
long been manufactured in Singapore, but now chiefly comes from 
Travancore. The grass is grown in damp fields in rich soil, 
planted in small tufts, it grows very rapidly and soon covers the 
ground. The oil is derived from the leaves which are cut in large 
bundles and put into the still. It is used in native medicine and 
a little of the grass is often put into native curries, but its greatest 
use is in making scented soaps. Perhaps more might be done with 
this manufacture in the Peninsula than is done at present. 
Citronella oil is produced by Andropogon nardus which is culti- 
vated largely in Ceylon as well as in Singapore, India and Java ; 
it also occurs in Past tropical Africa. It is planted in much the 
same way as the preceding grass, and distilled in the same way. 
There are two varieties cultivated in Ceylon, one of which is the 
Straits Settlements plant. This latter is said to produce the best 
oil. The amount of oil produced in Ceylon is very large, the 
export in 1899 being quoted at 1,478.756 lbs _ 
In the Ceylon Gardens Report for 1901, the Director says I he 
export of citronella oil has increased from 1,409,058 to 1,430, 168 
lbs., but has not yet reached the figures of 1899. I he industry is 
in a very depressed state owing to over-production and adul- 
teration/the latter being so bad that even good local oils do not 
obtain the value that is really due them. Prices have reached a 
