— 68 — 



of the year 1908, that is to say to about &H, 30 per 100 kilos. We desire 

 to call special attention to the two exquisite qualities of fennel oil di- 

 stilled by us. 



Garlic Oil. Until recently nothing was known concerning the 

 origin of garlic oil, a body which, as shown by Semmler's 1 ) investigations, 

 is composed of a series of different sulphides. But from an examination 

 recently carried on by C. Rindqvist 2 ) it appears that the generation of the 

 oil is due to a glucoside which occurs in the garlic plant, and to which 

 the author gives the name alliin. This alliin is split up by the action of 

 an enzyme, which has been isolated from garlic by Rindqvist, and which 

 he calls allisin. Besides garlic oil, fructose is formed as a decomposition 

 product. 



Geranium Oils. Soon after the appearance of our April Report the 

 price of African geranium oil advanced from fr. 33 to fr. 34 per kilo, 

 owing to the fact that the bulk of the output had been sold in large 

 quantities and had passed into the hands of firm holders. Naturally, in view 

 of the advance in Reunion oil, the Algerian owners endeavoured to exploit 

 the position to the fullest possible extent. It would appear, however, that 

 their extremest demands were only conceded in very few cases. Generally 

 speaking both the middlemen and the consumers held very much aloof. 

 The value of the oil is now again beginning to approach a level which 

 will be an inducement to the perfumer to look out for suitable and cheaper 

 substitutes. The chief of these, without any doubt, is our pure geraniol. 

 The reports current last year, many of which stated that it was intended 

 to restrict the geranium cultivation, have proved to be well-founded, 

 and if in the course of the summer the article failed to show any further 

 considerable increase in prices, this was due in the first place to the in- 

 fluence exerted by the still heavy stocks which had been carried over 

 from 1909 and 1908, but also to the fact that, as already stated, the buyers 

 were reserved. 



The exports from Algeria during the first half of the present year 

 only amounted to 6200 kilos, as compared with shipments of 20 400 kilos 

 and 20200 kilos in the corresponding periods of 1909 and 1908 respectively. 



In Reunion geranium oil, soon after the publication of our April Report, 

 an upward movement set in, which had been engineered very cleverly 

 by the planters and middlemen at St.-Denis. Although the stocks were 

 apparently considerable, these dealers were successful in driving up the 

 prices to more than fr. 30, and unfavourable rumours regarding the harvest 

 to be expected in August — which was said to have been heavily dama- 

 ged by frost — contributed to render the tendency still more firm. It is, 

 however, necessary, in view of the too optimistic estimates of the pro- 



!) Arch, der Pharm. 230 (1892), 434. 



2 ) Jubilee publication in honour of E. E. Sundvik; quoted from Apotheker Ztg. 25(1910), 105. 



