— 108 — 



After being freed from bases, the oil was treated with semicarbazide, 

 when it was possible to show the presence of heliotropin (m. p. 37°; 

 m. p. of the semicarbazone 235°). Besides heliotropin, the oil contains 

 other aldehydes or ketones; and a semicarbazone was isolated which, 

 after being treated with acid and distilled with steam, developed a well- 

 defined odour of peaches, but the quantity of this substance was so small 

 that more detailed investigation was impossible. 



The remainder of the oil was saponified and the portions which 

 reacted with phthalic anhydride were rubbed up with calcium chloride. 

 This produced a solid mass which proved to be an additive compound 

 of calcium chloride with benzyl alcohol (di 5 o 1,048). The portion which 

 had not entered into reaction with calcium chloride consisted pro- 

 bably of nerol. The alcohols which did not react with phthalic an- 

 hydride were fractionated at ordinary pressure, the result being a fraction 

 boiling at 190 to 205° (758 mm.) which yielded citral when oxidised, thus 

 proving the presence of linalool. The distillate which passed over bet- 

 ween 210 and 225° had a perceptible odour of terpineol, but when ino- 

 culated with solid terpineol it did not solidify. Nevertheless this portion 

 consisted of terpineol, m. p. 35° (a-terpineol), because it gave a phenyl- 

 urethane melting at 111°. 



Rose Oil, Bulgarian. Since our last Report the complexion of the 

 rose oil market has undergone an entire change. In the spring the im- 

 pression still prevailed that the plants, which owing to the mild winter 

 had developed favourably, would give an excellent yield, and all the 

 news pointed to an unusually rich crop. As a result, holders naturally 

 tried their best to liquidate the old stocks as far as possible, with the 

 intention of replacing them by cheaper purchases of new oil. The dis- 

 illusionment was therefore all the greater when at the end of May, that 

 is to say shortly after the beginning of the gathering, the news was 

 received that all expectations had been annihilated by deluge-like rain- 

 falls. A fortnight of sunless, moist weather was enough to cause the 

 buds to wither and fall before they could unfold, and the product of the 

 few plants which did flower at last showed a very low oil-content. As 

 will be seen from the subjoined statistical tables, the total yield of the 

 crop of 1910 is only 3148 kilos, or 25°/o less than that of 1909. In the 

 circumstances it is not surprising that prices immediately rushed upwards 

 and have continued to show an exceedingly firm tendency. We are una- 

 ware whether in the United States, — which for the reasons mentioned 

 in our October Report of 1909 (page 104) laid in very abundant stocks of 

 rose oil last year, — considerable quantities are still held; but if this 

 should be the case it is probable that at the high prices of the new 

 season the demand from this important purchasing market will be slight. 

 In England the result of the present condition of the market has been to 



