Vetiver, or cuscus grass (_Vetiveria zizanioides_), is a perennial
of the grass family, native to southern Asia. It is occasionally
cultivated in this country in the warmer portions of the Gulf Coast
States as an ornamental and also for its aromatic roots, which are
often used to impart a fragrance to clothing. In other countries an oil
is distilled from the roots and used in the manufacture of perfumes.
Vetiver will grow in almost any soil, but light, sandy soil enriched by
farmyard manure is to be preferred. Propagation is effected by dividing
old Clumps, which may be set in the field, either in the fall or
spring, about 4 or 5 feet apart each way. During the growing season the
plants are given sufficient cultivation to keep them free from weeds.
Vetiver grows in close bunches from 6 to 8 feet high, the numerous
roots spreading horizontally about 2 feet on all sides of the plant.
Harvesting the roots, which usually takes place in November, is a
laborious operation. The soil about the plants is opened with a stout,
sharp spade in a circle large enough to include most of the roots. The
earth is then dug from beneath the center of the plant and the entire
clump lifted. The roots are first beaten or shaken to free them from
adhering soil, then cut off close to the root crown and thoroughly
washed. They may be dried in the open air, but it is preferable to
dry them in a closed room at a low temperature, since they lose in
fragrance if exposed to the hot sun or to a free circulation of air.
Yields at the rate of 600 to 1,000 pounds of dry roots per acre have
been obtained. The prices in the markets of New Orleans are said to
range from 75 cents to $1 a pound. The oil is not produced commercially
in this country. The demand for both roots and oil is quite small, and
it has not yet been shown that vetiver would be a profitable crop in
the United States.