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extensive pressing-plant has it been possible to keep pace with the orders. 

 In all quarters our prices are willingly paid, from which we infer that those 

 firms for whom, in the past, the article was never cheap enough, have at 

 last acquired the conviction that almond oil is a product which should be 

 bought from a trustworthy source, and had best be procured direct from 

 the manufacturer. So far only superficial information of the present year's 

 almond crop is available. In Sicily a medium result is expected, while 

 in Apulia only a small crop is anticipated. These two districts are the 

 main sources of supply so far as the material used by us is concerned. 

 The prospects in Morocco are said to be favourable, but from Provence 

 and Mallorca come complaints of the injurious effects of spring-frosts. 

 In any case, however, the last-named district forecasts a medium crop. 

 It is true that several weeks ago there was a very animated business in 

 almonds for future delivery at comparatively high prices, but just lately 

 the market has begun to sag, and we are therefore of opinion that a 

 corresponding decline in the prices of almond oil is probable within the 

 next few months. 



Almond Oil, pressed, from Apricot kernels. Even the high quo- 

 tations for Syrian apricot kernels, to which we referred in our last Report, 

 were shortly afterwards surpassed. We understand that up to within the 

 month of July business was done at the parity of 75 c/fl to 77.50 c4t per 

 100 kilos, and that it has been possible to maintain the high values owing to 

 the firm tendency at Marseilles and the strong buying propensities of the 

 Italians, although as early as the end of May it was evident that the present 

 year's crop would be above the average. Not until the beginning of August 

 did the price fall to about 67 c/fi per 100 kilos, and so far the prices of 

 Syrian kernels have remained at this level. If the market should not recede 

 further, the principal reason will probably be that the Californian crop is 

 described as a very meagre one, and furthermore that offers of Japanese 

 and Chinese kernels have lately been almost wholly wanting. It is certain 

 that wealthy middlemen will do their utmost to keep up the quotations. 

 In fixing the selling-price of our guaranteed pure, cold-pressed almond oil 

 from apricot kernels we have already taken the above-mentioned decline 

 into account, for which reason, unless the downward movement should 

 make further headway towards the end of the year, no further reduction 

 is likely. Genuine essential oil of bitter almonds continues to be in strong 

 demand, and the increase in our turnover, especially of the variety free 

 from hydrocyanic acid, clearly shows that the majority of the consumers 

 have really become convinced that our oils, although usually higher in price 

 than competing brands, nevertheless deserve the preference. Almond oil, 

 in fact, is an article which must largely be taken on trust, because clever 

 adulteration is extremely difficult of detection. 



