Chemistry of Essential Oils

MAGNOLIACEJE 503

The yield obtained is from 2'5 to 5 per cent. In Europe the oil

distilled from the following growths of true anise yielded the following

results (Schimmel):—

Chilian

Macedonian

Mexican

Russian

Syrian

1-9 to 2-6

3-2

1-9 „ 2-1

2-4 „ 3-2

1-5 „ 6-0

Italian

Moravian

East Prussian

Spanish

Thuringian.

2'7 to 3'5
2-4 „ 3-2
2-4
3-0
2-4
The following interesting account of the Eussian anise seed trade is
due to the Handelsgesellschaft Anis :—l
" In Russia anise is grown in the county of Voronetz, in the districts
of Biriutch, Ostrogojsk, and Valuiki. The seed was originally introduced
from Spain by a Prince Tcherbatoff, and experimentally cultivated by
him on his estate at Krasnoie (district of Valuiki), whence its cultivation
gradually extended until it covered a radius of about 200 versts, within
which, it has remained restricted for many years. Experiments in anise
growing further north and south have been unsuccessful owing to climatic
conditions; in the north because of the long time which anise requires to
reach maturity (about four and a half months in the climate there pre-
vailing), and in the south because there the anise will not develop fully
owing to the great heat and drought. It is therefore only possible to
grow the plant within certain zones where the climatic conditions ap-
proximate to those of the county of Voronetz (average temperature about
15° C. in April, 18° in May, 20° in June and July, and 18° in August).
" The seed begins to sprout about three or four weeks after sowing, the
plants developing very slowly; when they have gained some little strength
the field is carefully weeded, a second weeding taking place a fortnight
later, when the plants must be thinned out where necessary. The central
umbel is the first to make growth, the branch umbels only developing
later; hence the former flowers first. The all-round flowering begins
about two months after the germination of the seed and lasts two or three
weeks. During the flowering time the anise plants are exceedingly sensi-
tive, and most of the crop failures are traceable to unfavourable weather
conditions during this period. Powerful sunshine following quickly after
rain or dew causes the flowers to dry up, and the same result is brought
about by the cold east and hot south winds (the latter being known as
' viuga,') which are particularly frequent in the first- half of July, just
when the plants are flowering. These winds only prevail locally, but
scarcely a season passes in which they do not cause some damage. In
the year 1903, for instance, a ' viuga' at the beginning of July destroyed
almost all the anise fields, and the estimate of the crop fell within a few
days from 250,000 to 87,000 poods. The seed harvested in that year was
mostly that of the central umbels, very dark, light in weight, and poor in
oil. After the flowering is over about one month passes before the seed
is ripe; the seed sets first, then it develops, and finally it matures. As
soon as the seed is ripe its apex turns a greyish-green colour.
" Within a week after the gathering the ripening of the fruit is com-
pleted, and the seed is then threshed upon a flat floor, which has
previously been prepared from clay mixed with water. The seed is
mostly threshed with flails, less frequently by running a cart over it.
The threshed anise is then mechanically freed from stalk, chaff, and the
1
Schimmels' Report, October, 1913, 22.