— 37 — 



Institute 1 ) to cause the distilling-experiment to be repeated in Mauritius with 

 a larger quantity of leaves, in order to make it possible to form an opinion 

 of the value of the oil. 



Citronella Oil. The weak tendency to which we referred in our 

 April Report reached its lowest point with offers at lO 1 /^ d. cif. These 

 offers were in the market at the beginning of August, but since then the 

 quotations have again advanced up to 1 1 V 4 d. cif, although for the present 

 it is hardly likely that there will be any question of a serious upward 

 movement. The exports up to 



15 th August 1910 were about 1068900 lbs. 

 15th fj 1909 M „ 1106 730 „ 

 15th „ 1908 „ „ 743515 „ 



The apparent reduction in this year's shipments as compared with 

 those of 1909 is in our own opinion due to the fact that for several weeks 

 in succession the London market subsisted upon its stocks, because cer- 

 tain shipments had been rejected on account of inferior quality and the 

 importers were compelled to pay heavy damages. As a result, business 

 was momentarily paralysed, because fresh orders from London were either 

 responded to from Ceylon with considerably advanced quotations, or were 

 entirely disregarded. 



Generally speaking, it would appear that lately there has been some 

 improvement in the quality of the shipments. Having made experiments 

 in the producing district with Schimmers Raised Test 2 ), we have recently 

 been able to convince ourselves that if only the exporters and the 

 large consumers could be induced unanimously to insist upon the oil 

 answering Schimmel's Raised Test, the adulteration of citronella oil with 

 petroleum would in a very short time be reduced to a minimum. It must, 

 however, be admitted that in that case it would also be necessary gradually 

 to pay somewhat enhanced prices. 



Java Citronella oil continues as before to be very much neglected, 

 the offers being far in excess of the demand. Unfortunately the consumers 

 do not yet give to this exquisite oil the attention it merits by virtue of 

 its high properties, especially as a scent for soaps. 



In our last Report 3 ) we discussed a proposal, put forward by Umney, 

 that Ceylon citronella oil should be required to shew a geraniol-content 

 of not less than 60%, and at the same time we mentioned Parry's opinion 

 that the price of the oil should be based entirely upon its geraniol-content. 

 Umney 4 ) has since made additional suggestions on the subject. He 



*) Bull. Imp. Inst. 8 (1910), 2. 



2 ) Report April 1904, 32. 



*) Report April 1910, 40. 



*) Perfum. and Essent. Oil Record 1 (1910), 78. 



