The true lavender (_Lavandula vera_) is a small shrubby plant of the
mint family, native to southern Europe, and widely cultivated for its
fragrant flowers and for the oil distilled from the fresh flowering
tops.
Lavender thrives best in light and rather dry soils well supplied with
lime, but may be grown in almost any well-drained loam. On low or wet
land it is almost certain to winterkill. The plant is not easily grown
from seed, but may be readily propagated from cuttings or by division.
In cold climates the plants must be well protected during the winter,
or they may be carried over in a greenhouse or coldframe. Early in the
spring the plants or rooted cuttings are set in well-prepared soil, 12
to 15 inches apart in rows spaced to suit the cultivation intended.
Frequent and thorough cultivation is desirable.
Not many blooms can be cut the first year, but full crops may be
expected for each of the three following years, after which it will be
best to start new plantings. The flowering tops are harvested when they
are in full bloom, and if used for the production of oil are distilled
at once without drying. If the dry flowers are wanted, the tops are
carefully dried in the shade and the flowers later stripped from the
stems by hand.
On ordinary soil, yields of 600 to 1,200 pounds per acre of fresh
flowering tops have been obtained. The dry weight is about four-fifths
of the green weight. The yield of oil varies widely, but from 12 to 15
pounds per acre may be expected under good conditions. The wholesale
prices in June, 1920, were about as follows: For "ordinary" flowers,
from 18 to 24 cents a pound; for "select" flowers, from 30 to 35 cents
a pound; for oil of lavender flowers, $11 to $12 a pound.