— 43 — 



The foregoing shows once more how important it is especially 

 in the case of essential oils, that they should be kept in a suitable 

 manner. It is absolutely necessary, particularly if the oils are kept 

 for a prolonged time, to protect them as much as possible from ex- 

 posure to light and air. 



Geranium Oil. During the last few years, the cultivation of 

 geraniums has been increasing considerably in Algeria, the result of which 

 is noticeable in the large quantities of the distillate now offered. The 

 prices have gone down about 5 fr. per kilo in the course of the last 

 six months. The opinion expressed in our last Report on the present 

 year's qualities has been confirmed; the new oils are of exceptionally 

 good quality. 



The geranium plantations in Reunion were totally destroyed on 

 the 21 st and 22 nd March of this year, by a cyclone which has not 

 been equalled in violence since 1863, and there was every reason to 

 believe that the prices of geranium oil would advance considerably. 

 But, contrary to all calculations, the opposite has taken place; after a 

 rise which continued only for a few weeks, the quotations are now 

 low r er than before the catastrophe, and that owing to the fact that the 

 new geranium plantations already yield crops in four months' time, 

 whilst all other cultivated plants require a longer period. For this 

 reason the geranium cultivations were restored before any others, and 

 that on a large scale, and they have now for several months again 

 been capable of producing crops. 



Moreover, large stocks of oil had accumulated in Reunion and in 

 France, and even the S. S. "Iraouaddy", which sailed on the 26 th March, 

 landed at Marseilles no less than 141 cases containing about 1800 kilos 

 geranium oil. In the month of August, the following quantities of oil, 

 the bulk of which may possibly originate from the new plantations, 

 arrived at Marseilles: — 



per S.S. "Melbourne" 35 cases 

 „ „ "Natal" 112 „ 



„ „ "Madagascar" 5 „ 



Total 152 cases = 1800 kilos. 



The present stock at Marseilles is estimated at about 4000 kilos. 



After what has been said, it is hardly to be expected that a rise 

 in the prices will take place in the immediate future, but a further 

 fall seems also out of the question. Our sales of this kind of geranium 

 oil are exceptionally large, and amount to a considerable proportion 

 of the whole annual production. 



The fine East Indian geranium or Palmarosa oil was during the last 

 few months quoted even a little cheaper than at the beginning of the 

 season, and has rightly been bought largely on speculation. The present 



