- 131 — 



constants were as follows: b. p. 77 to 78° (3 mm), di 5 o 0,950, a + 6°. 

 When oxidised with permanganate of potassium it gave a quantitative 

 yield of tanacetogene dicarboxylic acid; hence the saponified portion 

 consisted of pure sabinol. The acetate of this sabinol had a b. p. of 81 

 to 82°; d 15 o 0,972; « + 79°. 



The author also observed in the low-boiling portion of savin oil 

 n-decylic aldehyde [b. p. 80 to 81° (6 mm.); di 5 o 0,836; m. p. of the semi- 

 carbazone 102°] which he identified by oxidation into n-caprinic acid 

 (m. p. 31°). 



In the high-boiling portions Elze found geraniol, which he identified 

 by its diphenyl urethane (m. p. 82°) as well as by oxidation into 

 citral, and dihydrocuminic alcohol (m. p. of the naphthylurethane 146 to 147°) 

 which by oxidation yielded an aldehyde (m. p. of the semicarbazone 

 198 to 199°) and an acid (m. p. 132°). 



Spearmint Oil. According to the statements of our representative 

 who regularly visits the spearmint districts in the States of Michigan and 

 Indiana, in order to obtain the most accurate possible information, the 

 area under spearmint in those States amounts this year to 1462 acres, of 

 which 199 acres have newly been brought under cultivation. In 1909 the 

 area under spearmint was 1495 acres. In view of the fact that the new 

 plantations are only small, it follows that the principal part of the supply 

 this year must come from the fields which are 2 or 3 years old, and as the 

 condition of these is not particularly favourable, the crop is estimated at 

 two-thirds of a normal one. It is not expected that the oil-yield will exceed 

 19000 lbs., whereas that of 1909 amounted to 26000 lbs. Only about 1000 lbs. 

 were available of last year's crop. In Wayne County, N. Y., only about 

 18 acres are still left under spearmint, the output of which, inclusive of 

 the stock carried forward from 1909, will barely amount to 500 lbs. of oil. The 

 greater part of the stock of new and old oil is in the hands of producers 

 of ample financial resources, and part of it also has passed into the 

 possession of well-to-do merchants. It is therefore probable that no stone 

 will be left unturned to drive up the prices (which during the last few 

 weeks have already risen by about 15°/o) to a still higher level in the 

 course of the winter. The forecast of our April Report, therefore, has 

 been realised in every particular. For the present there are no other pro- 

 ducing districts of spearmint oil of any importance. 



Spike Oil. The crop in the south of France has yielded a fairly 

 good result, but for the present the prices asked bear no relation to the 

 low quotations current for Spanish spike oil, even considering that the 

 latter is usually of inferior quality. Several producers have given up dis- 

 tilling because they saw no prospect of disposing of their oil even at a 

 moderate profit. 



9* 



