- 4 8 - 



by the severe frosts in March, have unfortunately been confirmed, and 

 as a consequence the prices of the blossoms rose in a short time to 

 2 francs per kilo. As but little oil was available from last year, the 

 price of neroli oil advanced up to iooo francs per kilo. It is not 

 surprising that but few purchasers are willing to pay such a price, 

 the less so as our artificial neroli oil offers to the perfumery trade 

 a substitute, than which a more serviceable is inconceivable. The 

 demand for the latter was consequently exceptionally brisk, and we 

 have every reason to believe that a large number of doubters have 

 this year, driven by necessity, convinced themselves that our artificial 

 neroli oil possesses as a matter of fact the advantages ascribed to it, 

 and that it must be recognised as a substitute fully equal to the genuine 

 distillate. 



We abstract from the "Petite Revue agricole et horticole" the 

 following details on the financial prospects of the cultivation of orange 

 blossoms: The expenses of the establishment of orange -gardens are 

 very high, and are estimated at at least 3000 francs per hectare (say 

 SS 50 per acre). Not until after ten years do the plantations give 

 half a usual crop, and a full one only after twenty years. There can 

 be no question of profit, unless after 20 years the annual net result 

 of 4000 francs per hectare can be reckoned upon, corresponding to 

 a selling price of the blossoms of 0,60 francs per kilo. This, as is 

 well known, is the minimum price, which the "Societe cooperative des 

 proprietaires de fleurs d'oranger" has held out as a prospect to its 

 members, as the result of its efforts 1 ). 



Oil of Cretian Origanum. We recently detected cedar camphor 

 in a Smyrna origanum oil from Origanum smyrnaeum L. The oil had the 

 following physical properties: d^o 0,9386; phenol- content 4 1 %, soluble 

 in 2 to 2,5 vol. 70 per cent, alcohol. The sesquiterpene alcohol crystal- 

 lised out from the highest-boiling portions which in the distillation 

 with water vapour pass over as a milky distillate. The quantity may 

 possibly amount to 5 % of the original oil. After pressing out and 

 sucking off the adhering oil and recrystallising from dilute alcohol the 

 substance formed needle-shaped crystals (m. p. 81 to 84 ), which when 

 further recrystallised from petroleum ether melted somewhat constant 

 at 85,5 to 87 ; [«] D -[- 8° 48' (in 10% chloroform solution). The 

 values determined by elementary analysis pointed to an alcohol of the 

 formula C 15 H 26 0: — 



0,1694 g. subst: 0,4985 g. C0 2 , 0,1820 g H 2 0. 

 Found Calculated for C 15 H 26 

 C 80,73 % 81,08% 

 H 12,00% 11,71%. 



A ) Report October 1904, 60. 



