- 56 — 



out from it. The sp. gr. was 1,006 at 25°. At the time we described 

 the plant as Inula viscosa, Desfontaines. 



Iva Oil. This oil has been very scarce for a considerable time, but 

 during the past summer we have again succeeded in procuring a parcel 

 of raw material of good quality. This has already been worked up, but 

 the oil stands in at a higher price than previously. 



Laurel Leaf Oil. An oil of laurel leaves prepared in Dalmatia 1 ), which 

 has been examined lately in our laboratory, gave the following constants: 

 disc 0,9268, a D — 14°36', n D20O 1,46813, acid v. 0,5, ester v. 29,9, ester v. 

 after acetylation 68,6, sol. in 2,5 vols, and more 70°/o alcohol. These 

 constants agree with those of the German and French distillates. 



A laurel oil derived from Syria has been examined by Roure-Bertrand 

 Fils 2 ) and was found to behave as follows: dir,o 0,9161, « D — 14° 20', soluble 

 in 1 vol. and more of 80°/o alcohol. 



Lavender Oil. Up to well within the month of July the lavender 

 crop promised to yield an abundant return, all the climatic conditions for 

 a healthy development of the plants having been fulfilled. Then, however, the 

 tropical heat and drought which also visited other parts of Europe set in, 

 suddenly changing the conditions for the worse. At the commencement 

 of the distilling-period the yields were still good, but in proportion as the 

 distilling approached its close, the flowers yielded poorer returns, part of 

 the raw material being practically sun-burnt when brought to the stills. 

 Hence the average yield fell below the normal, and, collating all the returns 

 from the various districts, the total production this year may safely be 

 estimated at only two-thirds of a good medium crop. In some districts, 

 also, hail-storms had wrought great havoc, and destroyed the greater part 

 of the lavender-plants. The districts of Mont Ventoux and Forcalquier in 

 particular, which ordinarily produce the most lavender, had severely 

 suffered from the unfavourable weather. Relatively the most favourable 

 result was obtained in the region of Barreme and Digne and in the Northern 

 part of the Department of the Maritime Alps, although there also the crop 

 left something to be desired. Hence our Barreme works were able to take 

 the utmost advantage of their favourable situation right in the centre of 

 these districts. The labour question is becoming more difficult every 

 year, wages being steadily on the increase, and the labouring-classes being 

 with difficulty persuaded to keep from flocking into the towns, where they 

 have a prospect of earning more money. Naturally this regrettable fact 

 also tends in a not inconsiderable measure to affect the price of the 

 product. 



x ) Comp. footnote p. 63. On laurel leaf oils of various origin see also Report April 1909, 60. 

 2 ) Berichte von Roure-Bertrand Fils, April 1911, 25. 



