GERANIACE^E 487
As a matter of fact, however, the plants cultivated are varieties of these
descriptions, not corresponding exactly with the plant when cultivated
true to name in England. The plants are cultivated in open fields in
many parts of Algeria, notably at La Trappe de Staoiieli, Castiglione,
Sahel, and near Algiers and Constantine. It is also largely cultivated in
the South of France, in Spain (chiefly near Valencia and in the province
of Almeria), in Italy, Corsica, Reunion (Bourbon), and in Provence.
The plants are gathered a short time before the opening of the flowers,
when the rose-like odour commences to develop—the leaves at the same
time commencing to turn yellow. The odorous oil is contained entirely
in the green parts of the plant, the coloured petals being practically
odourless. The whole plant is, however, put into the still, and sometimes
rose petals are added, and the resulting fine oil is sold as oil of rose-
geranium.
According to Holmes
l
the plants actually used for distillation are not
only varieties of the above-mentioned species, but possibly hybrids also,
the particular varieties being kept as secret as possible by the growers.
Holmes states that most of the species of Pelargonium are natives of
dry rocky slopes in South Africa, and under these conditions the plants
are stunted in growth, but in order to obtain a more luxuriant growth and
a larger yield of oil, plantations in Southern Europe and North Africa are
mostly established on low-lying ground, kept moist by a system of irriga-
tion, which causes a luxuriant growth, the plants attaining a height of
about 2-£ ft., and the stems nearly an inch in thickness, so that three
crops of leaves can be distilled annually instead of only one. But although
the oil is thus obtained in larger quantity, it is inferior in quality to that
derived from plants grown on dry rocky hill-sides. The plant is usually
gathered a little before the opening of its flowers, when the citral-like
odour it possesses gives place to a geraniol or rose odour. The best time,
for distillation is recognised by the leaves beginning to turn yellow.
About 300 kilos of the plant yield a kilogram of the oil.
The plant used at Grasse, so far as can be judged from the leaf of the
plant, appears to be Pelargonium capitatum. Pelargonium Radida, var.
roseum, is apparently also employed there. That cultivated in Bourbon
is stated to be the same species, but the oil distilled there corresponds in
odour with the leaf of the nearly allied species, Pelargonium graveolens.
At Grasse the plants are propagated by cuttings, set in October in well-
sheltered beds, which in time ot host are protected by straw matting
placed over them. The cuttings are taken up m April and planted out
in rows in fields, or on terraces for facility of irrigation, and thus treated,
grow three or four feet high. At Nice they flower in August, but at
Grasse, and in cooler places, in October. For distillation, stem, flowers,
and foliage are cut down and put into the still.
Ducellier^2 gives the following interesting infor mation in regard to the
culture of the geranium plant in Algeria. There are about 850 hectares
(1 hectare *= about 2 5 acres) devoted to the cultivation of the plant, Bov igo
having about 250, Chelbi about 210, Boufarik about 200, Bouinan about
160, and Mouzaiaville about 45 hectares. In addition to the above there
are plantations in Staou&li, Rivet, Bourkika, Cheragas, Oran, Morocco
and elsewhere. For the purpose of preparing oil only one species, viz,
1
P. and E.O.F. (1913), 239.
1
Le Gtranium rosat, sa culture en Algeria, Algeria (1913).