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of fact it was too late to catch up the shortage which had already occurred ; 

 the fruit no longer possessed the same percentage of oil as earlier in 

 the season, and after a short period of activity the manufacture of this 

 oil therefore again came to an end. 



In view of the scanty demand the prices have again receded some- 

 what in the meantime, but their tendency now is towards a fresh advance 

 whenever an enquiry of some importance should come into the market. 



If the demand should revive within the next 7 months, higher prices 

 than those now ruling are more than probable, the existing stocks being 

 smaller than those at the corresponding time of the previous year. 



Until a few days ago the prospects of the new crop might be des- 

 cribed as very promising; abundant rains in the months of December 

 and January had brought a fresh supply of sap to the trees of all the 

 Citrus species after the long dry summer, and the exquisite foliage of all 

 the trees of this description warranted the highest expectations. The cold 

 weather which had generally prevailed throughout the winter had played 

 havoc with the pests which infest the trees, and for the coming year 

 there was therefore less reason than usual to apprehend any serious 

 visitation of the various diseases that affect these trees; but the frosty 

 nights in the beginning of February and the severe storms in the middle 

 of the past month have done a great deal of damage, the bergamot trees 

 having almost been stripped of their foliage, and a great deal of injury 

 having also been done to the leaves of the lemon trees. If the coming 

 spring should bring fine mild weather with moderate rainfall, it is possible 

 that the trees may very quickly recover and that at the beginning of May 

 they may possess sufficient strength to enable them to develop abundant 

 blossom. On the other hand, if during the next few months the climatic 

 conditions should continue to resemble those of the preceding period, 

 the trees will enter upon their flowering time in an unsatisfactory state, and 

 will then be scarcely likely to yield good new crops. 



Taken all round the physico-chemical conditions of the current season's 

 oils are equal to those of the previous season. The optical rotation of 

 bergamot oil is on an average somewhat lower than usual, and the oil 

 is distinguished by a particulary fine odour. As early as the beginning 

 of the crop lemon oil showed a low optical rotation, with the result that 

 even at the present stage oils of 57 to 59° are very frequent. The citral 

 content of the lemon oil this season appears to be fractionarily smaller 

 than in the season before. 



It is impossible to conclude this review without a reference to the 

 movement which was set on foot in the course of the past summer by 

 large landed proprietors and owners of gardens with the object of setting 

 up a National Monopoly in the trade in Sicilian and Calabrian essential 



5* 



