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of course has also brought about a considerable improvement in the con- 

 ditions of credit. This season the crop-prospects are again said to be 

 favourable, and the future of business in the country may therefore be 

 regarded with confidence, while the best expectations of the further deve- 

 lopment of German business-intercourse with the Roumanian Kingdom 

 seem to be warranted. 



Nothing new can be reported concerning the state of business in 

 Turkey, where, in view of the popularity in this market of "cheap" goods, 

 the turnover has been restricted within very moderate limits. The Com- 

 mercial Expert attached to the German Consulate-General at Constantinople 

 refers to the trade in Turkey in perfumery and soaps in a report 1 ) which 

 will probably interest some of our friends, and of which we therefore 

 reproduce the most important statements. The demand for perfumes, the 

 Expert states, is large, not only on the part of foreign residents, but to 

 an even greater extent on that of the natives of the country, for, speaking 

 generally, Orientals are fond of perfuming themselves freely. The commoner 

 perfumes used are mostly made by the numerous manufacturers who are 

 established in the country itself. The import-business reached its zenith 

 in the financial year 1906 — 7, but since then, owing to two poor harvests, 

 and to the political revolution and the disturbances consequent thereon, the 

 trade has declined to a not inconsiderable extent. It is possible, however, 

 that it will again increase slowly but permanently. French products still 

 maintain the first place and are sold in comparatively large quantities. An 

 important factor in determining the sale of these goods is that novelties 

 must be introduced every season, and here the mode of getting-up and 

 labelling plays the most important part. Of course, the mediocre and cheap 

 qualities have the largest sale, only the well-to-do being able to pay the 

 high prices asked for the very best scents. As France leads in the better- 

 class goods, so Germany holds a strong position in the sale of ordinary 

 and medium qualities. The goods are put up according to quality in 

 separate boxes or in boxes holding V 4 dozen or more. The ribbons, 

 bottles and other containers should be as pretty as possible, and even for 

 cheap scents bottles of a cut-glass appearance should be used in preference 

 to plain bottles. The terms of payment vary; sometimes they are cash less 

 5% discount, sometimes against a three- or six-months' acceptance, the 

 goods being sold inclusive of packing, f. o. b. Constantinople. Common 

 qualities of soap are made in Turkey. What has been stated with regard 

 to perfumes applies also to imported soaps, the sale of which has fallen off 

 within the past few years. In this department France also probably occupies 

 the first place, but both for quality and popularity the German soaps are 

 fully equal to the French. The principal sources of supply are France, 

 Germany, Austria, Britain, and the United States. Germany has not been 



: ) Chem. Industrie 34 (1911), No. 13. 



