— 54 — 



is therefore to be assumed that when this year's crop of gingergrass oil 

 comes to market it will arouse very little interest indeed. 



Oil of Helichrysum angustifolium. A sample of oil from Heli- 

 chrysum angustifolium, D. C. (H. itdlicum, G. Don, N. O. Compositae)* 

 obtained from Dalmatia 1 ), gave the following constants: di 50 0,9005, 

 n D 2oo 1,48209, acid v. 0,9, ester v. 61,1, sol. in about 9 vols, and more 90% 

 alcohol. The colour of the oil was olive-green; its odour reminded 

 somewhat of Roman chamomile; its opt. rot. could not be determined 

 because of its intense colour. The present sample differs from oils of 

 the same derivation previously described by us 2 ) by its ester value, which 

 is decidedly lower. 



Hop Oil. We have recently been compelled almost to double our 

 prices for pure oil distilled from unsulphurated hops, cheap raw material 

 suitable for distilling being unprocurable. Notwithstanding this fact our 

 quality has been in such request that we have almost cleared our stock 

 of oil from hops of the last season, which affords the clearest evidence 

 of the unquestionable superiority of our distillate over the numerous 

 cheap hop oils of commerce, most of which, merely by their odour, betray 

 their derivation from sulphurated hops. 



According to the communications of our informant the hop crop 

 which is now in progress will fall short of that of 1910 by about 400000 cwts. 

 in round figures. This is due to the effect of the tropical heat and of 

 the abnormal drought from which the plants suffered during the latter 

 half of their growing period. The probable yield of the crop in the various 

 countries concerned is as follows: — 



1911 1910 1909 1908 



Germany 190000 cwts. 395000 cwts. 195000 cwts. 535000 cwts. 



Austria-Hungary 175000 „ 325000 „ 170000 „ 400000 „ 



England 330000 „ 320000 „ 200000 „ 475000 „ 



America ..... 370000 „ 365000 „ 400000 „ 425000 „ 



Other countries. 135000 „ 175000 „ 90000 „ 250000 „ 



World's Total:- 1200000 cwts. 1580000 cwts. 1055000 cwts. 2085000 cwts. 



But although the estimate for 1911 is less by 25% than the yield of 

 1910, the fact must be taken into account, when forming an opinion of 

 the probable course of prices, that very considerable quantities still remain 

 available from last season, and that therefore for the present there is no 

 need to anticipate a further serious upward movement. 



x ) See p. 63, footnote. 



2 ) Report October 1903, 76; April 1909, 57. In both these Reports, Sweet is mentioned 

 as the author of the botanical name. The designation Helichrysum angustifolium, D. C. 

 is in accordance with the Index Kewensis. 



