— 59 — 



The results of the analyses follow here 









Motia 





Sofia 





Palmarosa oil 





Ginger grass oil 



Colour 



bright yellow 





brownish yellow 



di5° 



0,8870 





0,9284 



«D 



+ o°55 / 





+ 35° 



acid no. 



1,0 





i.3 



ester no. 



39,8 = 13,9 °/ geranyl acetate 



19,2 



ester no. after acetylation 



256,6 = 87,4°/ total geraniol 



i75><> 



solubility 



soluble in 1,6 and more 



vol. 



soluble in 2 and more vol. 





70 per cent alcohol 





70 per cent alcohol; with 

 10 vol. strong opalescence 



These results show at once the great difference between the two oils. 

 The ginger grass oil agrees completely with one which we had examined 

 thoroughly before 1 ), and it would therefore probably have the same 

 chemical composition. At the moment we are still engaged in isol- 

 ating the alcoholic constituents of the oil. 



At our request, Dr. Stapf was kind enough to examine the above- 

 mentioned grasses with the view of ascertaining whether we had here 

 to do with representatives of one, or of different varieties, and he 

 proved that the plants could not be distinguished morphologically, but 

 both belong to the narrow-leaved form of Cymbopogon Martini Stapf. 

 This result is interesting, particularly with regard to the grasses sent 

 over by Bur kill, as these yield oils which differ totally from each 

 other. How this comes about is for the present an open question, 

 and further reliable observations on the spot are required to clear up 

 this mysterious behaviour of the grass. 



We are greatly indebted to Dr. Stapf for the information he has 

 so kindly supplied, and we avail ourselves of this opportunity to 

 express to him our best thanks. 



An oil which was sent to the Botanical Institute of Buitenzorg 2 ), 

 and which, judged by the odour, appeared to be palmarosa oil, con- 

 tained only 49 °/ geraniol. The plant from which this oil had been 

 obtained has been planted in the experimental garden at Buitenzorg, 

 and shall later on be submitted to a detailed examination with reference 

 to the oil it contains. 



Hop Oil. In continuation of the information given by us in 

 October last, we reproduce here a detailed statement on the cultivation 



x ) Report April 1904, 56. 



2 ) Verslag omtrent de te Buitenzorg gevestigde technische Afdeelingen van het 

 Departement van Landbouw 1905. Batavia, 1906, p. 46. 



