— 81 — 



is fagaramide, m. p. 119 to 120°, which has been identified by the authors 

 as the tsobutylamide of piperonylacrylic acid. They prepared the bodies 

 synthetically from piperonylacrylic acid chloride and isobutylamine in 

 ethereal solution. So far, the presence of this nitrogenous body in the 

 oil of Fagara xanthoxyloides was unknown. 



Fennel Oil. Our prophecy that only a slight reduction in the prices 

 of fennel could be looked for in the course of the winter has come true. 

 The farmers, almost without exception, have been able to obtain the prices 

 for which they were standing out, and the oil-distillers in Galicia con- 

 sequently remained firm in their turn. We have ourselves within the past 

 few months distilled a quantity of fennel, so as not to leave in the lurch 

 the numerous customers who appreciate our "extra" quality with high 

 solidifying-point. 



Garlic Oil. As is well known, garlic oil 1 ) is one of the few oils which 

 contain sulphur. According to Manindranath Banerjee 2 ) a ready method 

 of estimating the sulphur-content is to triturate impure mercury containing 

 lead in a mortar with garlic-juice, when lead sulphide, together with a minute 

 proportion of mercuric sulphide, is formed. It is even possible by this 

 means to free the mercury entirely from lead. 



Geranium Oil. Since our last Report there has been a further con- 

 siderable change for the worse in the position of the African geranium 

 oil market. In so far as it was at all possible to procure any offers, the 

 prices ranged between 55 and 60 francs, and these figures have actually 

 been paid for various small lots which turned up here and there. Generally 

 speaking, however, business in the article was extraordinarily quiet, in- 

 asmuch as consumers very strongly objected to pay such prices, and 

 instead turned their attention in an increasing degree to substitutes, among 

 which our pure geraniol takes the first place. Whether the high values 

 of oil will induce growers who had abandoned their plantations in previous 

 years on account of the low prices, again to take up geranium growing 

 remains to be seen, but in any case it must be borne in mind that there 

 is no prospect of a return to the old, brisk trading-conditions in geranium 

 oil unless there is a considerable reduction in prices. The total exports 

 of African geranium oil from Algeria in 1911 amounted to 



28 500 kilos, compared with 



33 800 „ in 1910, 

 * 41000 „ „ 1909, 



46 000 „ „ 1908. 

 As was to be expected, therefore, the shipments again show a con- 

 siderable falling-off last year. 



*) Comp. Report October 1910, 68. 

 2 ) Proceed, chem. Soc. 27 (1911), 234. 



