on a far smaller scale. Unfortunately, this article is now no longer classed 

 separately from other essential oils in the official statistics of trade. 



In the Austro-Hungarian empire the volume of business was normal 

 and our branch-factory at Bodenbach was, as always, fully occupied. But, 

 generally speaking, the economic condition of the monarchy cannot be 

 described as altogether favourable. According to the statistical returns 

 published by the Ministry for Foreign Trade of the Austro-Hungarian 

 Customs Territory, the imports in the months from January to July amoun- 

 ted to 1615300000 kronen, and the exports to 1331 100000 kronen, showing 

 increases of 98200000 and 54600000 kronen respectively as compared 

 with the results for the corresponding period of 1909. The balance of 

 trade, therefore, shows an excess of 284 millions on the debit side, as 

 compared with 240 millions in the preceding year. Our long-continued 

 efforts to awaken in this market some appreciation of the advantages of 

 employing essential oils of such a high standard as our own are gradually 

 yielding better and better results, which is satisfactory in view of the fact 

 that a large number of manufacturers of essential oils have specially 

 fastened upon Austria-Hungary as an outlet for "cheap" wares. On several 

 occasions we were able, assisted by our research laboratory, to prove 

 that the word "cheapness" sometimes has a very peculiar significance. 



The question of the projected increase in the spirit tax has for 

 the present been postponed sine die, and in any case it is out of the 

 question that a new law on this subject can come into force before 

 October 1, 1911. 



During the summer months business with France presented a parti- 

 cularly animated picture. Fortunately, the apprehensions which, it was 

 thought, would be justified by the introduction of the new French Customs 

 Tariff on April 1, 1910, have proved to be groundless; in fact, business 

 transactions with the Republic show a considerable increase since the 

 tariff came into force. The French consumers, therefore, appear to have 

 resigned themselves to the necessity of having to pay more for the 

 materials which they import. We cannot allow this opportunity to pass 

 without emphasising the fact that the manner in which the French customs 

 officials carry out the provisions of the new tariff must be stigmatised 

 as one entirely unworthy of the French nation, and we express the 

 hope that the Governments concerned will soon be able to effect an 

 alteration in this respect. It is not, only that in many cases the trader 

 is entirely at the mercy of the arbitrary decision of the customs officers, 

 so far as concerns the classification; of the various goods, and that the 

 latter are themselves at sea in the ' interpretation of the new tariff, but in 

 many instances in which the drafting of the tariff makes it possible to 

 cast doubt upon the accuracy of the declaration, stringent penalties are 

 enforced. It is to be desired that our French business friends, upon whom 



