- 7 8 - 



returning farce of the fixing of the prices would have been carried 

 through quicker, and in a simpler manner, if there had not been 

 voices predicting lower prices on the supposition that considerable 

 stocks of old oil were still in the hands of merchants. So far as we 

 have been able to ascertain, this view is solely represented by the 

 correspondent of The Chemist and Druggist, and the expression of his 

 views 1 ) has called forth an amount of public and private commentary, 

 which ascribes to him the most varied motives. We must refrain from 

 going further into this question, the more so, as to us also the situ- 

 ation does not yet seem sufficiently clear to say definitely which of 

 the two parties is right. 



In any case the prices of first quality oil in the producing country 

 have gradually advanced to the parity of 775 marks per kilo, and in 

 spite of the rumours of lower rates they appear to maintain themselves 

 at that level. We would still point out that we have never before 

 received so many adulterated samples for testing as this year, and 

 we consider it our duty to call once more the attention of our friends 

 to the fact that our testing laboratory, the services of which are at 

 the disposal of our clients without charge, possesses exceptional 

 experience in judging this article. 



The foregoing agrees on all essential points with the Report of 

 the German Consul at Constantinople, which may follow here in extenso: 



The very severe winter, and the exceptionally rough spring with the 

 subsequent continuous drought, have had an extraordinary retarding effect on 

 the development of the rose gardens. The cooler weather with copious rainfall 

 which prevailed later on and also during the distilling season, came unfortunately 

 in many instances too late. The bushes were no longer able to bud afresh, only 

 the buds already in existence were saved from drying up. The distillation was 

 also delayed owing to the unusual weather-conditions, and could only at the 

 end of June be said to have come to a conclusion. 



The estimates of the total result fluctuate between 450 000 and 600 000 meticals. 

 If the former figure is taken as a basis, only 2100 kilos rose oil would have 

 been harvested, i. e., about 4O°/ less than last year when the harvest amounted 

 to about 3600 kilos. 



The demand is accordingly very considerable. In Bulgaria the few old 

 parcels still in stock (including oils two and three years old) have been bought 

 up at high prices. The price of finest unadulterated Bulgarian rose oil is 

 to-day 750 marks per kilo, and is still moving upwards. 



Rose Oil, French. According to an article in La vie a la 

 Campagne 2 ), which has also appeared in La Revue de Grasse 3 ), 

 efforts are now made in the South of France to render the rose cultiv- 

 ation there more productive, so as not to be, as hitherto, almost 

 exclusively dependent upon the Bulgarian oil production. 



J ) Chemist and Druggist 71 (1907), 64, 97 and 196. 

 2 ) La Vie a la Campagne 1 (1907), 414. 

 s ) La Revue de Grasse 1907, No. 13. 



