VARIETIES. 
179 
aloe grow in considerable abundance. The drug is rudely manufactured 
by the Arabs from the expressed juice, and is then carried to the bazaars of 
Alexandria, Cairo, Smyrna, &c. 
The aloes produced in the island of Cyprus, though excellent in quality, 
is stated not to be prepared in sufficient quantity to admit of its being ex- 
ported. — London Pharm. Journ. 
Note on the Oil of Geranium having the Odor of Roses, (Pelargonium 
odoratissimum). — The geranium which has the odor of roses will yield on 
distillation an aromatic water and an essential oil. M. Recluz, a Chemist 
at Yaugirard, has stated, that previous to the year 1819, he had, by order 
of M. Tissier, Chemist and Professor of Chemistry at Lyons, submitted to 
distillation 1590 grammes of the leaves of this plant, operating by cohoba- 
tion twice, he obtained eight grammes of a concrete volatile oil, analogous, 
in its odor, to that of the rose, congealable at 18° C. 
Since the publication of M. Recluz, this question has made rapid pro- 
gress, for there is now prepared in France a large quantity of the essential 
oil of geranium, which is used in perfumery. 
The geranium, to obtain the essence, is cultivated in the south. It has also 
been cultivated in the department of Seine-et-Oise, at Montfort-Lamaury, 
and, according to M. Demarson, who has occupied himself and given 
much attention to this subject, its cultivation is easy ; under our tempera- 
ture the geranium thrives, especially when the nights are fresh. 
The oil obtained in the department of Seine-et-Oise, is more agreeable in 
its odor than that obtained from the geranium cultivated in the south ; the 
same is remarked with the geranium as with the orange flower. 
The geranium is propagated by slips. These slips are planted usually 
in February, but they may be planted at any season. 
100 lbs. of geranium leaves yielded from 54 to 55 grammes of essential 
oil ; these leaves are sold at from 30 to 35 francs the 100 lbs., but care 
must be taken in the weighing, as they are not always well picked, and 
contain foreign matter, which increases the weight but does not yield oil. 
The distilled water which has been used in the production of the oil has 
some analogy to rose water, but it has a vegetable odor— an odor sui generis 
— which distinguishes it from it. This water, which was at first sold at 1 
franc 25 cents the litre, has fallen to 60 centimes the litre. 
The oil of geranium was, in the first instance, sold at a very high price ; 
it has since fallen to 30 francs, to 25 and 20 francs, at last to 15 and to 12 
francs.* 
The oil of geranium of the Paris houses is of a green color ; that of Nice 
is colorless. This oil is employed in the manufacture of essence of roses, 
which is very expensive. After having been used for adulterating, it is in 
its turn adulterated. — London Pharm. Journ., from Journ. de Chimie Medi- 
cate. 
*It is not stated for what quantity this price is charged. — Ed. Pharm. Journal. 
