1 Fes., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. ; 145 
lieu of glass; on these the flowers are laid and suffered to remain until fresh 
flowers are procured. This operation is repeated several tines, after which the 
cloths are subjected to great pressure to remove the now perfumed oil. 
How to Make the Clarified Fat—Take 7 lb. each of beef, mutton, 
and pork fat; chop fine on a board, and wash in clear cold water; then put in 
a boiler with five gallons of fresh water; put on the fire; add 2 oz. of 
alum anda handful of coarse salt and forty cloves; boil until all the fat is 
melted ; then get another basin with five gallons of fresh water, and skim the 
fat through a wire strainer into the fresh water; now boil a second time 
(adding the same quantity of salt and alum) for one hour, and then let cool. 
On each oceasion of its cooling a dark-coloured sediment is found at the 
bottom. ‘This must be carefully scraped away. When the fat is perfectly 
white and pure throughout, it is re-melted and put away for use. 
How to Make a Cheap Still.—Construct a metallic tank of about 100 
llons capacity, the interior fitted with a holed false bottom, about 9 inches 
Poin the base. Set in brickwork (although this is not absolutely necessary) 
with a fire retort under it. A funnel about a foot in diameter at its greatest 
extent, with a rim to enter and a flange to support it, is fitted like a saucepan 
lid over a corresponding hole in the head of the tank. A pipe 2 inches in 
diameter—a continuation of the funnel—continues like a spiral worm around the 
interior woodwork of a barrel filled with cold water, the end projecting near 
the base like a faucet. This completes the apparatus. A. five-gallon still can 
be constructed for about $25 (about £5). 
How to Operate the Still.—The space below the false bottom of the still is 
occupied by water, in which a few pounds of salt or alum are dissolved to 
increase the boiling point. ‘The tank is now filled with the desired flowers, and 
the funnel-shaped lid is held in place by being screwed down and the joint 
packed with moist clay. A quick fire is lighted under the still, causing vapour, 
which, percolating through the flowers lying over the false bottom, releases the 
attar, and steam and oil go jointly up the funnel, and wind their way through 
the condensirg corkscrew pipe. A stream of cold water running into the tub 
condenses the steam and oil, which flows into a glass jug placed at the lower 
end of the tube. The oil is seen floating on the top, and is skimmed off with a 
spatula or flat ivory paper-knife, or can be sucked off with a pipette (glass pipe), 
a crystal tube having a bulb about three inches from one extremity. ‘The 
distiller places one end in his mouth, and, lightly touching the filaments of 
essential oil with the other, draws them into the bulb. 
Tf the same distilled water is employed several times over, it increases the 
output of oil. The temperature of the steam must not be too great, or the 
essential oil is likely to be injured. Time—about three hours. The false 
bottom containing the stewed leaves is hoisted out, and the mashed mass is 
useful as a fertiliser. his process applies only to the rose. (Persons who 
are desirous of using stills will do well to study the law on the subject as it 
relates to Queensland. Jleavy penalties are imposed on those who possess or 
work unlicensed stills—Hd. Q.A.J.) 
Attar of Roses.—Nature has many flowers. Gold is heavy, roses are not; 
yet the essential oil of roses is worth more than gold, weight for weight. Of 
all botanical growths, the attar or otto of roses finds the readiest market. It 
is always in demand. In a fairly prosperous year 800 lb. weight of roses will 
yield 1 oz. of attar, or oil, and a quantity of fragrant saleable rosewater. The 
correct kinds of roses to grow are the Centifolia and the Rose of France (Rose 
de Grasse). An acre of land under first-class cultivation will yield at least 
1,500 Jb. of rose petals, and this will give 5 oz. of uttar worth from $9 to $13 
(£1 16s. to £2 12s.) per oz., and there will be some 800 gallons of rosewater 
valued at from 75 cents to $1 (3s. 14d. to 48. 1d.) per gallon. 
