356 EDITORIAL. 



difficulties of the distiller. At any rate, a rise in prices was anticipated 

 by European firms, and their anticipations were realized. 



At the same time that prices rose, and probably because they did, ylang- 

 ylang trees began to be extensively cultivated elsewhere, particularly in 

 Java and in the French colony of Eeunion. Ylang-ylang oils have since 

 been reported also from Jamaica, Bangkok, Tonkin, Nossi-Be, Mayotte, 

 and the Comoros. However, the continued maintenance of the high 

 prices for Philippine oil of ylang-ylang would have been entirely an 

 artificial condition, except in 1905 when the trees were badly damaged 

 by a destructive typhoon, and one which, in view of the stimulus to 

 ylang-ylang growing elsewhere, could have been hardly expecte.d to con- 

 tinue. However, this brings out an interesting fact. The oils produced 

 in other localities are all of inferior quality compared with the best Ma- 

 nila oil, and have not and do not now command such high prices as the 

 best Philippine oils. In fact, the Java oil is known to the trade as 

 cananga oil, although produced by the same species. 



The care and skill with which the oil is distilled in the different 

 localities named undoubtedly has something to do with this, but it is 

 highly probable that, as has been suggested by the chemists of Eoure- 

 Bertrand Fils, climatic difiierences are of great importance. Be the 

 causes what they may, the quality of first class Philippine ylang-ylang 

 oil has not been equaled elsewhere, and after a thorough trial of Eeunion 

 oils, certain French firms have turned again to Philippine distillers 

 for fii'st quality oils. The production of large quantities of oil in 

 Eeunion and Java has flooded the market with oils of the second class. 

 This class of oil probably also suffers to a small extent from the man- 

 ufacture of the synthetic product. In consideriag the result of the 

 production of such large quantities of ylang-5dang oil, it must be remem- 

 bered that the market for such a commodity is quite limited, so that the 

 effect on the prevailing prices is quickly felt. 



The following abstracts from the semi-annual reports of the firms of 

 Schimmel and Company and Eoure-Bertrand Fils may be of interest. 



A rise in prices should cause no surprise in view of the difficult circum- 

 stances. Report Schimmel & Co. (1899), 2, 56. The shipments only sufficed for 

 the most pressing demands. Eeport Schimmel & Co. (1900), 1, 48. 



Generally speaking, there is on the various European markets a decided scarci- 

 ty of fine ylang-ylang oil, Avith an abundance of medium and cheaper qualities. 

 The last named have, in reality, no higher value than cananga oil. Report 

 Schimmel & Co. (1901), 1, 53. 



But one thing appears to be without doubt, namely, that in Java the care 

 devoted to the distillation is not sufficient to make it possible to obtain oils of 

 ylang of superior quality. Bull. Roure-Bertrand Fils (1902), 1, 38. 



There is such a competition in the purchase of the flowers that the prices are 

 driven up beyond all limits. Report Schimmel & Co. (1903), 1, 78. 



