Commercial notes and scientific information. 43 



afforded a nitrate with m. p. 103°, of which the chloroform solution turned the polarised 

 ray of light to the right. 



Very minute quantities of Z-limonene were present in fractions of the same boiling- 

 point. The purified nitrosochloride had m. p. 103 to 104° and with piperidine was con- 

 verted into nitrolpiperidide, m. p. 93°. 



Terpinene did not occur in the fractions boiiing between 177 and 179° (d, r ,o 0,8560; 

 « D — 17° 4'). It could neither be identified from the nitrosite nor from its oxidation- 

 products or its dihydrochloride. 



The fractions of the experimental material which were the last to pass over gave 

 with bisulphite-liquor small quantities of a solid separation. By fractionating the alde- 

 hyde-free oil we arrived at a fraction with a linalool-like odour and with the following 

 physical characters: b.p.62 to 63° (3mm.), 196 to 201° (ord. press.), d 15O 0,8813, « D — 6° 8'. 

 When gently warmed with strong formic acid it decomposed with turbidity, as a result 

 of the elimination of water and the formation of terpenes. Although the fraction which 

 obviously contained an alcohol was left in contact with phenylisocyanate for 5 days, 

 only small proportions of a phenylurethane with m. p. 59 to 62° and very difficult to 

 purify, were obtainable. But it is nevertheless probable that this was linalool. 



The aldehyde which was recovered from the purified bisulphite-compound had the 

 odour of a higher fatty aldehyde: it was probably nonylaldehyde which, as is well- 

 known, is also a constituent of Ceylon cinnamon oil. 



In the resolution of the bisulphite compound of the aldehyde, which was found 

 to occur in the fractions with the lowest b. p., the unmistakable odour of benzaldehyde 

 was observed. The semicarbazone which was prepared melted between 212 and 214° 

 and gave no depression of m. p. with benzaldehyde semicarbazone. 



From the above investigation it is evident that Seychelles cinnamon oil possesses 

 the same constituents as Ceylon cinnamon oil. If correspondingly larger quantities 

 of raw material were worked up, it is probable that the constituents of Ceylon oil 

 which have so far not been found present in Seychelles oil would be shown also to 

 occur therein. 



Citronella Oil. It is a fact that since the publication of our Report of October 1912 

 the market in Ceylon citronella oil has become somewhat quieter, but in spite of this 

 prices have remained very firm, and continue at this moment to be quoted at from 

 17 d. to 18 d. p. lb., a figure which, measured by the old standards, is really very high. It 

 would appear that we shall have to reckon with approximately the same conditions 

 of price in the future, for as soon as there is even the slightest sign of a downward 

 tendency such a pressure of orders is felt that the Ceylon traders and exporters are 

 able to dispose of their supplies at once, after which they are in a position to raise 

 their demands once more in the twinkling of an eye, with the result that shortly after- 

 wards the values, as a rule, are back to their previous level, if not above it. 



According to official returns the exports have been as follows: — 



in the year 1912 ... 1 420306 lbs. 

 „ „ „ 1911 .. . 1574 965 „ 

 „ „ „ 1910 . . . 1762 919 „ 



So far, however, the export figures for the current year warrant the belief that the 

 steady decline in exports shown in the above table has reached its nadir, for between 

 January 1 st and February 17 th , 1913, 120 948 lbs. have already been shipped, against 

 40 581 lbs. in the corresponding period of 1912. It may be concluded from these 



