— 122 — 



in these Reports, has again undergone a considerable increase last year, 

 the exports having reached 2364 kilos against 1857 kilos in 1909. The 

 only circumstance which enables us to take a less disconsolate view of 

 the future of the Manila oil than is often expressed by those who are 

 specially interested in the development of this branch of industry in 

 Reunion, is the fact that so far the quality of the leading Manila brands, 

 of which our "Sartorius" mark is the first, is far in excess of that of 

 these dangerous competitors. 



According to a statement in the Diplomatic and Consular Reports 

 No. 4607 (1910), p. 45, the exports of ylang-ylang oil from the Philippines 

 were as follows: — 



year 1907 . . . 9012 gallons value £ 35269 

 „ 1908 . . . 1088 „ „ „ 24799 



„ 1909 .. . 675 „ „ „ 15722 



The Philippine ylang-ylang oils which have been examined by Bacon 1 ) 

 in the course of the last three years have turned out to be of better quality 

 than those previously examined-), which is probably due to the competition 

 of the Reunion oils, as well as to the lower prices of the flowers and to 

 the employment of better methods of distilling. During the past season 

 the flowers were sold at 7 centavos (= 3,5 cents) per kilo, whereas three 

 years ago as much as 40 to 50 centavos (=20 to 25 cents) per kilo, was 

 paid. Ester values of 130 to 150 were frequently observed in the exam- 

 ination of oils of the present season. 



Zedoary Oil. In connection with previous communications on zedoary 

 oil 3 ), R. F. Bacon 4 ) describes a sesquiterpene alcohol which has been isolated 

 from the fractions of the oil which boiled between 140 and 166° (7 mm.). 

 The sesquiterpene alcohol in question possesses a powerful, rather plea- 

 sant odour, to which is due the characteristic aroma of zedoary root. 

 The alcohol is distinguished by its high power of crystallisation; crystals 

 several inches long having been very often obtained from it. The m. p. 

 is about 67°, the b. p. cannot be determined, for the alcohol begins to 

 sublime before boiling temperature is reached, d|j|l,01, « D ±0. Treatment 

 with concentrated sulphuric accid produces at first a red coloration, follow- 

 ed by carbonisation. When treated with hot concentrated nitric acid a 

 colourless and odourless solid body results, which dissolves in 10°/o soda 

 liquor with red coloration and is precipitated by acids. When the solution 

 is treated in light petroleum with phosphorus pentachloride no reaction 

 takes place, such reaction only occurring after the addition of a drop of 

 concentrated formic acid, when a hard resin is formed. 



!) Philippine Journ. of Sc. 5 (1910), A. 257. 



2 ) Comp. Report November 1908, 128. 



3) Comp. Report October 1909, 53. 



*) Philippine Journ. of Sc. 5 (1910), A. 261. 



