— 90 — 



Since we reported last on Florentine orris root, the upward 

 movement of prices, supported by numerous orders from foreign 

 countries, has made continued progress, with the result that as much as 

 c4i 86. — cif. Hamburg has been paid for sorts, and up to &Jt 82. — cif. 

 Hamburg for pickings. 



At the present moment no old stock whatsoever is left in the 

 country from last season, and the small quantity which still remains 

 in the hands of merchants and exporters has already been sold and 

 is about to be despatched. 



The bulk of the new crop is now under cover; the quality is 

 beautiful. In certain localities, where the roots were badly developed 

 and lean owing to unfavourable weather conditions, excess of moisture 

 and lack of sunshine, the crop has not been gathered at all. The 

 total result of the new crop is somewhere between 500 and 600 tons, 

 and for the new business year, running from September 1910 to 

 August 1911, the following quantities may therefore be regarded as 

 available: — 



Old root about nil tons 



New root, maximum ...... „ 600 „ 



Total about 600 tons 

 as compared with: — 



760 tons in the business year . . . . . 1909/1910 



1015 „ „ „ „ „ 1908/1909 



1040 „ „ „ „ „ 1907/1908 



1090 „ „ „ „ „ 1906/1907 



1210 „ „ „ „ „ 1905/1906 



1160 „ „ „ „ ...... 1904/1905 



1310 „ „ „ „ „ 1903/1904 



1400 „ „ „ „ „ 1902/1903. 



The exports from the beginning of March to the end 



of August 1910 were about 340 tons 



Add exports from 1 st September 1909 to end of 



February 1910 4 20 „ 



Total exports in the business year 1909/1910 . . . about 760 tons. 



In view of the limited supplies, amounting altogether only to 

 about 600 tons, it is obvious that during the season now beginning 

 no cheap prices are to be expected for Florentine orris, and in the 

 circumstances it is more likely that there will be an advance. Generally 

 speaking, the producers are disinclined to sell, because they hope to 

 be able to obtain better prices later on, when the demand begins to 

 increase. Even at the present time there are some whose quotations 

 equal &M 88. — cif. Hamburg for sorts, but with a little patience we 

 think that it will be possible to execute confidential orders at about 

 c4i 85. — cif. Hamburg for sorts, presupposing of course that the 

 market continues to remain quiet for some time to come. 



F. Robert 1 ) declares that the preparation of oil of orris by distillation 

 with steam is a totally unsuitable and antiquated method, requiring 

 much time and trouble, and, moreover, causing the apparatus to be seri- 

 ously attacked by the free fatty acids which are carried over along with 



x ) Journ. Parfum. et Savonn. 23 (1910), 65. 



