294 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JourNAL. [1 Arnrit, 1898. 
Harvesting. 
The time of harvesting is when the plant is in full bloom; the essential 
oil is obtained from the flower and stem, and the greater amount of blossoms 
the better will the produce be. 
The mode of harvesting is as represented in the accompanying illustration. 
‘The plant usually reaches from 2 feet to 2 feet 6 inches in height, and is cut 
back with a sickle to within 6 inches or 8 inches of the ground. The material 
is iaid down on strong cloths, with the top part of the plant pointing inwards 
from each end of the wrapper. The edges of the cloth are then skewered 
together, and the product carted to the still; the weight of each running about 
100 1b. to 120 Ib. 
Mernops or Exrracring tHe PerFUMES. 
This subject is one that requires carefully describing to be of any use, and 
can be best done when treating the various kinds of plants; but as the lavender 
lant only is now under notice, the system usually adopted with it, which is 
distillation, will be explained. 
Space will not permit of attention being given to all the various classes of 
stills employed in the extraction of perfumes; but some of those which aretin 
use througkout the colony are of the most primitive kind, others are equal to 
any found elsewhere. 
Illustrations of those in use at Mitcham are given herein, and also the 
practice adopted there, as by far the highest price is obtained forthe product 
of this well-known scent-producing district. 
The following illustration gives a view of the general character of the 
building, which, it must be admitted, is in no way pretentious. It merely 
consists of a two-story building or shed, the upper floor being on a level with 
