Wild volatile-oil plants and their economic importance : $b I.—Black sage; II.—Wild sage; III.—Swamp bay

This bulletin opens a detailed look at three native American plants—black sage, wild sage, and swamp bay—exploring the aromatic oils they yield and why those oils matter to industry. The author explains how most commercial volatile‑oil supplies still come from distant Old‑World crops, leaving a gap that U.S. wild flora could fill if its potential is better understood. Early chapters describe the plants’ habitats, their distinctive scents, and the chemistry that makes their oils useful in medicines, flavors and other products.

The work also sketches the broader landscape of American aromatic plants, noting that only a handful, such as longleaf pine and wintergreen, have been harnessed so far. It points out the historical reliance on turpentine and the growing need for domestic alternatives, setting the stage for future research. Readers will come away with a clear sense of how these modest wild species might become valuable resources for a growing market.