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THE ALUMNI JOURNAL. 



BOOK REVIEWS. 



By Prof. H. H. RUSBY. 

 {Continued from Fibiiiary issue.) 



Semi-Annual Report of Scliimmel & 

 Co. (Fritzsche Brothers), Leipzig and 

 New York, April and October, 1895. 



One of the most instructive portions of 

 the report is the chapter on ' ' Sicilian 

 and Calabrian Essential Oils," of which 

 a carefully tabulated statement is given 

 and discussed. It is shown that while the 

 total exportation for 1894 was 78,406 

 kilos (nearly 13%) greater than during 

 1893, its value was 1,408,666 Lire (or 

 more than 11%) less. This is attributed 

 in part to^^the gold premium, which had 

 varied from 10 to 15%, and furnishes a 

 contribution to the pending discussion as 

 to the effects^of the depreciation of a na- 

 tional currency^upon the prosperity of the 

 agricultural classes. 



A great improvement is noted in the 

 quality of Bergamot oil over that of the 

 preceding season. 40*^0 is given as a 

 fair requirement of ester-content. The 

 question of cause of variation in ester- 

 percentage is tentatively discussed, and 

 it is suggested as probable that in " pro- 

 portion as the land npon which the trees 

 grow has been longer cultivated, so the 

 ester-content of the fruit increases." It 

 is also indicated that while the percent- 

 age of oil decreases as the fruit ap- 

 proaches maturity, its ester-percentage 

 increases. It is pointed out that the 

 solubility tests previously given for 

 adulteration of this oil with fatty oils 

 have not been found satisfactory and that 

 evaporating to a residue not exceeding 

 6% by weight, is a safer method. 



Attention is called to systematic at- 

 tempts to adulterate Lemon oil without 

 affecting its optical character, and the 

 necessity of a satisfactory test for the per- 



centage of citral is again alluded to. The 

 strongest emphasis is laid upon the neces- 

 sity of preserving this oil in a dark and 

 cool place, in completely filled bottles. 



The great rise in the price of Rose- 

 mary oil is attributed to the great drought 

 the preceding year, which almost com- 

 pletely destroyed the crop in some sec- 

 tions. 



Owing to the same trouble the produc- 

 tion of German Rose oil was heavily cut 

 down and this, added to an unusually 

 keen competition among buyers, has 

 caused very heavy advances in the price. 

 This has in turn led to great dullness in 

 the trade. The following statement oc- 

 curs : 



' 'The Bulgarian Government continues 

 to manifest considerable interest in the 

 rose culture. Last year it despatched an 

 expert to Kezanlik and the surrounding 

 district in order to study the industry 

 and acquaint himself with the general 

 position of the article. It is said that 

 this expert, in the report submitted by 

 him to the ministry, has pointed out the 

 dangers to which the Bulgarian rose 

 culture is exposed by the German com- 

 petition and has laid stress upon the 

 necessity to improve the arrangements 

 for the preparation of the oil. There can 

 be but little doubt that the Bulgarian 

 distilling plant, which is still the same 

 that was used half a century ago, is quite 

 out of date ; but the chief thing certainly 

 will be to abandon the practice of adult- 

 erating the oil of rose, and thereby to ob- 

 tain for the Bulgarian article a greater 

 measure of confidence among the con- 

 sumers. In our opinion the greatest 

 danger to which all producers of rose oil 

 are exposed lies in the advance of chem- 

 istry, which as it is seen in the case of 

 neroli oil, is now paying particular at- 

 tention to the artificial preparation of 

 such oils." 



