— 77 — 



balsam: d 2 3o 0,677; a r> i °°5 soluble in 3 vol. 95 per cent, alcohol, 

 but slightly soluble in dilute (50 per cent.) alcohol. The principal 

 constituent of the oil was found to be heptane (formerly abietene), 

 which also agrees with the result d23o 0,677 an< ^ b. p. 100 to 101 . 

 Pinene could not be detected with certainty in the oil. Towards the 

 end of the steam - distillation , a small quantity of a yellowish oil 

 (d23o 0,810) passed over, which could not be examined further. By 

 extraction of the bulk of the distillate with 50 per cent, alcohol, 

 Rabak isolated the readily soluble characteristic bearer of the odour 

 of the oil as a golden-yellow oil; its 10 per cent, alcoholic solution 

 was optically inactive; acid no. 42; ester no. 124; sap. no. 166. The 

 alcohol isolated in the form of a yellowish oil from the saponified 

 oil could not be identified further owing to scarcity of material. 



In the distillation -water, which was obtained from the balsam 

 when driving the oil off, acetic acid and formic acid were detected. 

 The resin remaining behind as distillation - residue was transparent, 

 hard, and brittle; its alcoholic solution was optically inactive, its acid 

 no. i42;Rabak was, however, unable to isolate crystals of abietic acid 

 from the resin. — 



Rose Oil, Bulgarian. As could only be expected after the 

 exceptionally severe winter, the result is this year considerably 

 smaller than in 1906; the shortage is almost throughout estimated 

 at about 45%- The tota l production is said to be 2513 kilos, 

 against 4600 kilos last year. It is divided over the individual districts 

 as follows: — 



Kazanlik 



. 874 kilos 



Nova-Zagora 



• 85 „ 



Stara-Zagora 



• 115 » 



Tchirpan 



• 19° » 



Philippople . 



• 319 » 



Petchera 



64 „ 



Panagurishte 



7 „ 



Karlovo 



■ 859 „ 



Total 2513 kilos. 



We are informed that the rose-bushes this year were almost a whole 

 month behind in their development, as unfavourable and cold weather 

 had retarded the growth. Whereas in 1906 roses flowered as early 

 as April 30, it was this time only possible to commence operations 

 towards the end of May. At the time of the distillation itself, the 

 weather generally was very satisfactory, which found its expression in 

 many places in a decidedly higher yield of oil than in the previous 

 year. In view of the considerable shortage, higher prices than in 1906 

 would of course have been justified right from the first, and the yearly 



