— 23 — 



by the revolution are only too familiar ground, and it need scarcely be 

 stated that while everything is at sixes and sevens all business-intercourse 

 with this great market is suffering heavily. A considerable time must 

 elapse before the new form of Government can inspire confidence, and 

 before a return of peace and security will permit of the revival of trade 

 and traffic from their present prostrate condition. 



Commercial Notes and Scientific Information 

 on Essential Oils. 



Oil of Acronychia laurifolia, Bl. At Buitenzorg 1 ) 198 kilos leaves 

 of this laurel, known in Java as Jeisarira, yielded 133 cc. oil, possessing 

 the following constants: d 26 o 0,915, « D -f-l°52', sap. v. 11, ester v. after 

 acet. 50,9. The oil contained no aldehydes. 



Almond Oil, pressed, from Almonds (German Pharmacopoeia V). 



The hope of lower prices which we expressed in our last Report has un- 

 fortunately not been fulfilled, for throughout the winter months the ap- 

 pearance of both the Apulian and the Sicilian almond markets has been 

 very firm indeed. In spite of the high prices the product of last year's 

 crop found ready buyers, and at present only small stocks are left, for 

 which 208 c4i per 100 kilos is asked. The available reports with regard 

 to the present state of the flowers are favourable, but the danger of frost 

 will not be past until after the next four weeks, and it would therefore 

 be premature at this stage to describe the coming crop as in all pro- 

 bability likely to be a good one. The prices of almonds of the new crop 

 for future delivery, which are at present entirely speculative, have fallen 

 by a few marks as a result of the prospects. During the winter the sale 

 of our own expressed almond oil has been normal, and there was no 

 difficulty in obtaining the unaltered high prices. As already stated the 

 remaining stocks of sweet almonds are small, and doubtless therefore the 

 present value will be maintained until the summer. 



Almond Oil, pressed, from Apricot kernels. The forecast in our 

 last Report of the probable course of the apricot-kernel market has on 

 M the whole been fulfilled. The deficiency in the Californian crop prevented 

 a further fall in prices, which otherwise would probably have followed 

 upon the favourable crop in the district of Damascus, and the quotations, 

 with few fluctuations, remained at about 69 o4l per 100 kilos. After the 

 outbreak of the war between Italy and Turkey some depression had been 



') Jaarb. dep. landb. in Ned. -Indie, Batavia 1910, 49. 



