— 61 — 



constants of a distillate recently prepared by us from the root of the 

 plant. The product appeared in the form of a mass of colourless needles, 

 saturated with a small proportion of a brown oil, and deliquescing into a 

 brown liquid at from 40 to 45°. Its odour is peculiar, perhaps somewhat 

 like that of ladanum. The high sp. gr. of 1,0374 at 30° and the pronounced 

 optical activity (a D -\- 123° 45') are worthy of note. The other constants 

 determined by us are: acid v. 6,4, ester v. 180,0, ester v. after acet. 199,0. 



Essential Oils, Sicilian and Calabrian. 



Our esteemed friend, Mr. Eduardo Jacob of Messina, reports in his 

 customary obliging manner as follows: — 



The exports in the year 1911 have exceeded those of the previous 

 year by 137 476 kilos, value 3 709065 Lire. The shipments have not only 

 absorbed the entire production of the year 1911, but have also reduced 

 from over 100000 kilos to about 30000 kilos the stock of old lemon oil 

 which was carried over from the year 1910 into the year 1911. These 

 circumstances gave rise to a general advance in prices in Sicily, until the 

 quotations far exceeded the average of last year. It is not surprising that 

 the first outcome of this advance in prices was that the stocks in foreign 

 countries were used up to the last drop, and the next that during the 

 closing months of the year consumers abroad made their purchases in 

 the producing country with the utmost circumspection and so to speak 

 from hand to mouth only. The fact that in spite of these precautions 

 the stocks in Sicily have likewise been cleared, except for the small 

 balance mentioned above, shows that the world's consumption is steadily 

 expanding. In these circumstances the closing months of 1911 have wit- 

 nessed an animated business for delivery abroad in 1912, as everywhere 

 there has been a perceptible lack of available oil. The essence trade of 

 Calabria and Sicily has therefore entered upon the year 1912 under ex- 

 ceptionally favourable auspices. 



Bergamot Oil. In September of last year this article was quoted 

 at from 42 c4i to 43 ^, and throughout the months of September and 

 October it remained approximately at that level, while the available oil, 

 almost to the last drop, passed into the hands of the consumers. 

 ^ During the four or six weeks preceding the arrival of the new oil 

 the old stocks had been cleared to such an extent that a few stubborn 

 holders, who up to that time had refused to sell, were able to realize as 

 much as from 50 o4i to 52 o4i for their wares. 



It is true that on the whole the new crop was not expected to yield 

 a favourable result, but the manufacturers nevertheless believed that by 

 selling at from 40 <M to 41 c4i they were reasonably sure of a decent 



