Lavender, in French lavande, comes from the Latin verb lavare, which means to wash—aptly named due the blossom’s fresh, clean scent. Lavender growing began in Provence (southern France) in around 1850. At first, wild lavender was gathered by hand on the hills and high plateaus. Modern lavender culture began around 1950. Lavandin is a hybrid between Lavandula officinalis and Lavandula spica. It blooms from June to mid July, before it’s cut and harvested. Lavandula offinalis grows at an elevation of 1800 to 4200 feet. It blooms from early July to early August. Lavandula spica grows at an elevation of 600 to 1800 feet. So, the first natural cross breeding happened between an elevation of 1500 to 1800 feet where both populations existed. Keep in mind that this hybrid is sterile. History During the years 1923/1924 farmers made 100 tons of lavender essential oil coming mainly from hand gathering (90%) and 1 to 2 tons of lavandin essential oil. By 1950 the lavandin essential oil crop had increased to 200 tons per year. Flower gathering was soon completely abandoned, with the advent of machine harvesting and modern production methods. By 1956 lavandin essential oil production was increasing, but lavender oil production was still around 80 tons. By 1980 lavandin essential oil production had increased to 1000 tons, while lavender oil production was still decreasing, down to around 65 tons. After 1995 lavandin essential oil had increased to 1200 tons with lavender essential oil production continuing to drop to 45 tons per year. At this time, we have four types of lavandin (Lavandula abrialis, super, sumian and grosso). However, due to a major problem with a disease called “withering”, the lifetime of the average acreage has decreased to 3 to 4 years from 10 to 12 years before the disease trouble began. Lavandin grosso is a resistant clone that is very productive. Withering is due to bacteria transported by an insect called the ciccadelle. Lots of plants are affected and farmers spread insecticide, unfortunately also dangerous to the bees. In some areas, hives have been crippled or lost due to use of these insecticides. How do farmers plant lavender and lavandin ? Growing lavender is long process. Growers make plantings in beds and after two years, they harvest the plants and replant them in long lines, usually in spring. With good rains in May and June, the first flower crops can be harvested in the second or the third year (so 4 to 5 years after the seed is in ground). Since lavandin is a sterile hybrid, the increase method is accomplished with cuttings made on adult plants that are five years old. Density of the plantings Because of the machine cutters, plantings are done in long lines. The distance between two lines should allow room for both the tractor and the machine cutters. For lavender plants, growers allow 16 inches between two plants and 1.5 to 1.6 yards between rows. For lavandin plants, the distance is 20 to 30 inches between two plants and 1.6 to 2 yards between rows. This equates to 12,000 to 15,000 plants of lavender or 8,000 to 10,000 plants of lavandin on two acres of land. The plants provide their best production after the third or fourth year. Marketing Ninety percent of the oil production is exported to the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan. The world production for essential oil is more than 50,000 tons/year, but Lavandin essential oil production is only 1000 to 1200 tons/year and lavender essential oil production is only about 40 tons per year! Lavender oil is extracted mostly from the flowers of the lavender plant, primarily through steam distillation. The flowers of lavender are fragrant in nature and have been used for making potpourris for many years. Lavender essential oil has also been traditionally used in making perfumes. The oil is very useful in aromatherapy and many aromatic preparations are made using lavender oil. Today, lavender essential oil is used in various forms including aromatherapy oil, gels, infusions, lotions, and soaps. Possible lavender oil uses Acne, allergies, anxiety, asthma, athlete’s foot, bruises, burns, chicken pox, colic, cuts, cystitis, depression, insomnia, dermatitis, dysmenorrhea, earache, flatulence, head-ache, hypertension, insect bites, insect-repellent, itching, labor pains, migrane, oily skin, rheumatism, scabies, scars, sores, sprains, strains, stress, stretch marks, vertigo and whooping cough. Lavender honey In Provence, we harvest about 1000 tons of honey per season, with 600 tons of this production being classified as lavender honey. Thanks to the bees, the lavender flower yield is 10 to 15% more. Due mainly to the mistral (strong and cold northen wind), the lavender honey crops are not large, usually one super or around 35 pounds per hive. The year 2010 looks encouraging and we are hoping for 45 to 55 pounds per colony. Unfortunately, some areas will produce almost nothing due to drought, wind and pesticides. Lavender honey is generally acknowledged as one of the best honeys in the world. The wholesale price per kilo (2.2 lbs.) is around $7.80 USD and the retail price is often $13.00 to $18.00 USD per kilo. Editor’s note: Michel has worked for U.S. beekeepers before and would like to work in the U.S. again. If you have a beekeeping position open, please contact him via his website http:/milymiel. free.fr/indexUS.php. Email michel danielfr@yahoo.fr.