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The extraction of the oil is carried out by the steam 
■distillation method. After cutting, the grass is 
allowed to dry for a few days before distillation in 
order to save fuel, and therefore the harvest should 
be arranged to take place during a dry spell. The 
yield of oil is highest with young grass, when it 
may be as high as 0.8 per cent., while wuth old grass 
it .may be as low as 0.3 per cent. On a basis of 
two cuttings a year and an average oil content of 
0.5 per cent., the yield of oil is about 110 lbs. per 
acre per annum. 
There is a steady demand for this oil, which is 
largely used for scenting soaps and for the manu- 
facture of various artificial perfumes. The oil from 
this country, whiqh is slightly superior to that 
produced in Ceylon, at present realises about 4s. 3d. 
per lb. (Sept. 1923). 
Lemon ( Cymbopogon citratus). — This grass 
^Grass. . is somewhat similar to citronella in 
appearance, although not so strong in 
growth. It is propagated in the same way but is 
planted rather more closely, usually 2 to 21/2 ft. 
apart. The grass is ready for cutting when about 
8 months old, after which two cuttings a year can 
be maintained for some years. The yield of fresh 
grass usually obtained at each cutting is about 4 
tons per acre. The extraction of the oil is carried 
out in the same way as that described for citronella. 
The yield of oil is much less, being only between 
0.2 and 0.3 per cent., calculated on the fresh grass, 
which is equivalent to about 45 lbs. per acre per 
annum. 
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