— 22 — 



the highly injurious action of oil of Asarum europceum (i. e. of the asarone 

 contained therein) upon the stomach and the intestines has caused pre- 

 mature delivery in pregnancy. 



Basil Oil, Sweet. As already stated on previous occasions, the 

 demand for this oil for purposes of perfumery has considerably diminished 

 of late years, and the small supplies which we have received from various 

 producing countries have therefore been sufficient for the requirements. 

 There has been no alteration in price. 



Bay Oil. It is to be regretted that within the past six months it has 

 not been possible to remove the difficulties in the way of procuring suitable 

 raw material, and that we have therefore again been restricted to the use 

 of imported oil. The few parcels of West Indian origin which have been 

 offered were mostly of very dubious quality, and as a result some scar- 

 city has been experienced during the past few weeks, and has already 

 resulted in a distinct advance in prices. Higher quotations also come 

 from the producing country, on the ground, it is alleged, that owing to 

 some new taxation the distillation of bay oil has become much more 

 costly. The demand for our terpeneless quality has been so lively, that 

 owing to lack of raw material we have not always been able to meet it. 



Betel Oil. H. Gilbert 1 ) describes the cultivation of the betel-plant in 

 the Province of Thanh-Hoa (Tonquin). According to this author there 

 are two varieties of the plant, of which one attains a height of from 6 to 

 9 feet and the other of up to 30 feet. The last-named is the cultivated 

 variety. 



The betel-plant grows best on rich soil, such as the loamy borders 

 of rivers. As the condition of the leaves is the principal consideration 

 when the crop is gathered and as the leaves are very sensitive to the 

 influence of the weather, it is necessary to protect the plants against wind 

 and sun, for which reason they are grown under large shelters, built of 

 bamboo sticks and covered with bamboo-matting. These shelters being 

 rather expensive to construct and to keep in repair, the cultivation of the 

 betel-plant is somewhat restricted. The plant is propagated from cuttings 

 which are planted out in holes from 4 to 6 inches deep, and staked to 

 the bamboo-sticks which form the support of the shelter. Planting takes 

 place in March, April, or May, and the crop may be gathered the same 

 season. Oil-cake, especially cotton seed cake, is used for manuring. 



Birch Bud Oil. The few small parcels of birch buds which have 

 been offered from Russia during the present year have been kept at such 

 high prices that we have been compelled fo make a corresponding increase 

 in our quotations. Unfortunately, from the point of view of quantity also 

 the supplies are unequal to the demaVi'd, and the consumption has there- 



*) Journ. d' Agriculture tropicale 11 (1911), 227. 



