— 53 — 



Fennel Oil. In view of the rich fennel harvest of last autumn, 

 and the excellent quality, we have paid particular attention during 

 this season to the distillation of fennel oil, and thanks to our perfect 

 installation we have worked up a considerable quantity. Our purchases 

 of Galician, Russian, and Roumanian fennel amounted in the last few 

 months to nearly half a million kilos, which is a striking proof that 

 the new Customs regulations with reference to the distillation of seeds, 

 are well adapted to bring new life into this important branch of our 

 industry. 



Geranium Oil. The trade in Algerian geranium oil during the 

 past six months was absolutely lifeless, and the absence of any demand 

 showed that ample advantage had been taken last summer of the 

 opportunity of laying in cheap supplies. The rumours of the occurrence 

 of the notorious maladie cryptogamique have meanwhile been denied, 

 but it is said that the extreme drought has done severe damage to 

 the geranium cultivations. Although the prices have nominally hardened, 

 and a few producers talk of 30 francs per kilo, the article suffers, as 

 already stated, from pronounced neglect. 



According to the Bulletin de l'Office du Gouvernement General 

 de TAlgerie, the exports of geranium oil amounted last year to — 



54600 kilos, value 1639000 francs, 

 average value 30 francs, against in 1905, to 52600 kilos, value 

 1 786000 francs, average value 30 francs. 



We are indebted to the kindness of M. E. Gerand, the Director 

 of the Office de l'Algerie of Paris, in the first place for the correction 

 of the export figures for geranium oil given in our last Report (p. 39), 

 viz., that the definite average value per kilo in the year 1905 was 

 30 francs and not 34 francs (the figures given there for the years 

 1903 and 1904 are also definite). M. Gerand next informs us that 

 for statistical purposes this price also applies provisionally for 1906, 

 for such time, until the Commission algerienne des valeurs has fixed 

 the definite price. 



In the Reunion geranium oil market there was also little animation 

 during the past 6 months. Nominally the Syndicate, supported by 

 a considerable drop in the exchange, raised its price towards the end 

 of the year to 31 francs cif. Marseilles, but there do not appear to 

 have been any transactions worth mentioning, for since then the market 

 has again fallen to 25 francs. We hear rumours of certain differences 

 of opinion within the Organisation, and several important producers 

 are said to have given recently notice to retire. We are inclined to 

 think that it will soon be possible to buy at even lower prices. The 

 exports in 1906 amounted to 39068 litres, against 47898 litres 

 in 1905. 



