+U. S. Department of Agriculture+,
+Bureau of Plant Industry+,
+Office of the Chief+,
_Washington, D. C., October 14, 1911_.
+Sir+: I have the honor to transmit herewith and to recommend for
publication as Bulletin No. 235 of the series of this Bureau a
manuscript prepared by Mr. Frank Rabak, Chemical Biologist, entitled
“Wild Volatile-Oil Plants and Their Economic Importance: I.--Black
Sage; II.--Wild Sage; III.--Swamp Bay,” submitted by Dr. R. H. True,
Physiologist in Charge of the Office of Drug-Plant, Poisonous-Plant,
Physiological, and Fermentation Investigations.
At present the various industries making use of volatile oils and their
derivatives find their supply of these materials in products obtained
from Old World plants grown in foreign lands. In some cases, because of
the difficulty in producing these substances, it is likely that this
commercial situation will persist for some time, but in other cases it
seems likely that American resources may be capable of utilization. In
our wild flora there are many oil-containing plants of considerable
commercial promise and the purpose of this bulletin is to bring to
notice the results of investigations which have been carried on with a
number of these plants and to point out their commercial utility. It is
presented as the first of a series, to be followed from time to time
with the results of further investigations which are to be carried on
with this class of plants and their products.
Respectfully,
+B. T. Galloway+,
_Chief of Bureau_.
+Hon. James Wilson+,
_Secretary of Agriculture_.