io6 



Indies, and for convenience of comparison the corresponding 

 figures for commercial lemon-grass oil distilled in India from 

 Andropogeu citratus. 



These results indicate that the Montserrat oil contains as large 

 a proportion of the valuable constituent citral as the East Indian 

 oil, and only differs from the latter product in being incompletely 

 soluble in 70 per cent, alcohol. 



Lemon-grass is now principally employed as a source of citral, 

 and the commercial value of the oil depends principally upon the 

 amount of this constitutent contained in it. 



Commercial valuation of the oil. 



Specimens of the oil, accompanied by a statement of the results 

 of its chemical examination, virere submitted to dealers in essential 

 oils both in this country and on the Continent for commercial 

 valuation. The reports from these firms indicated that, although 

 in some cases there was a tendency to quote a low price (4jd. per 

 oz.) for this oil owing to its being incompletely soluble in alcohol, 

 yet the general opinion appeared to be that, if placed regularly 

 on the market in fair quantities, it would be worth from 5d. to 6d. 

 per ounce, which is about the price of good quality East Indian 

 oil at the present time. 



These results indicate that Montserrat lemon grass oil, in spite 

 of its peculiar partial insolubility in alcohol, would probably find 

 a ready sale at remunerative prices in this country and on the 

 Continent. 



AGRICULTURE OF PORTO RICO.* 



Porto Rico is essentially an agricultural country. This follows, 

 as a natural result, the even climate, the cheap labour, and the 

 good market for the various products of the soil. 



* From Register of Porto Rico for 1905, Compiled brj the Secretary of Porto Rico, December 

 1905. 



