Melbourne botan. Garden
25/7/71.
Sir
Various urgent engagements in my Department have prevented me from replying to your
communication of the 19 inst.
prior to this date, and I have now the honor to inform you in answer to your questions
1, that the destillation of Malt Vinegar like that of any other acetous liquid is
effected with a view of obtaining acetic acid (of course diluted) in a purer state.
The method must depend on the strength of the purified acid to be produced and the
purpose for which it is to be applied. The acetic acid need not be always absolutely
pure nor always concentrated.
The second question is absolved in the answer to the first.
3, I do see no reason, why here, where so much malt is cheaply obtainable, the production
of Maltvinegar should not be remunerative, just as well as that of wood vinegar, especially
if the new industry was conducted by parties, possessing previous experience, and
if it was supported at the outset with sufficient capital.
I will enlarge on this subject, if the questions submitted for my opinion, have assumed
more definite distinctness.
—
In reference to the second series of your questions I beg to say
1, the bitter principle of the Horehound (
) can be obtained by leniently boiling the herb and by evaporating the liquid, obtained
by pressure, at a mild heat to a thick extract. By this process however the volatile
oil of the plant is lost.
2, Within Victorian territory we possess among native plants two kinds, which particularly
recommend themselves on account of their tonic bitterness; namely
and
. Both are meadow plants, the latter more frequent then
the former. Both resemble in their principles the medicinal Gentian, the tast
of bitterness moreover is not disagreeable. An extract from both can be prepared
just like from the Marrubium.
3, To your query, whether a still could be profitably employed in procuring essential
oils, I can reply affirmatively, and I would in such cases recommend the improved
distillation apparatus patented by Mr Bosisto, also the process adopted by that Gentleman
in securing the rarest ethereal oils by infiltration into fatty substances. The number
of plants, which can be chosen for oil distillation is so great here, that I must
refer you for full information to the volumes of the Victorian Exhibition for 1862
and 1867.
I have the honor to be,
Sir, your obedient,
Ferd. von Mueller, M.D.
Direct. botan Garden
Marcus Clarke Esqr
Secretary to the industrial Museum.
