110 Report of Schimmel $ Co. April 1913. 



The plant is found only in Russian Turkestan'), and its habitat on the left bank of 

 the Syr Daria is rather restricted. On the right bank, however, it is very widely spread, 

 occupying the river-banks and plains between the large and the smaller rivers up to 

 the Altai hills. The monopoly of collecting the flowers is leased out by the Govern- 

 ment. The newly-opened flowers are richest in santonin, but as the plants flower very 

 rapidly, the gathering, which usually takes place about the end of August, must be 

 completed within a fortnight. 



In common with all other wild plants, a considerable proportion of the Artemisia 

 is collected every year by the inhabitants of the treeless steppes for fuel. That the 

 herb has not been completely exterminated is only due to the fact that it is a perennial, 

 and that before the gathering begins some of it has already reached such a degree of 

 maturity that it sows itself. The numerous herds of sheep which graze in the district 

 also destroy many plants. With careful management it would be possible to obtain 

 a yield of from 150000 too 300000 poods (say 2415 to 4830 tons) of Flores Gince per 

 dessiatine (= about 2\A> acres). 



Wormwood Oil. Our New York friends inform us that complaints are rife 

 everywhere of sluggish sales, which is natural, seeing that the prohibition of absinth 

 which has been enacted in several countries in the last few years has greatly restricted 

 the demand for the article. For this reason the prices have receded somewhat, and 

 they would doubtless be still lower than they are if there were no important stocks 

 in second hand for which high prices were paid and which the owners are trying 

 to sell by degrees, if possible without loss to themselves. We are of opinion that 

 under the conditions now prevailing the cultivation of wormwood in the United States 

 is certain to decline considerably. It is therefore all the more fortunate that our 

 German wormwood oil is available to supply the world's requirements. Within the past 

 few years this oil has found a market almost everywhere, and in view of its moderate 

 price it is just as well suited to take the place of the American oil, as it was to make 

 good the disappearance of the French oil, which formerly played such a considerable 

 part. We have now struck French oil off our list for good. 



Wormwood Oil, Indian, see p. 28. 



Ylang-Ylang Oil. Our supplies of the finest oil ("Sartorius" brand) have come 

 to hand with their customary regularity and were sufficient to cover the whole of the 

 demand. The price may be described as firm; stocks are not accumulating, and lately 

 there have been some rumours of difficulties in obtaining distilling material. Whether 

 these difficulties are only temporary or whether we must prepare for a permanent 

 falling-off in the supply we are as yet unable to judge, but in order to guard against 

 surprises our friends among the consumers will be well-advised to contract in advance 

 for their requirements, the oil to be delivered as called for. To all appearance there 

 has been no check in the over-production in the island of Reunion to which we have 

 referred on several occasions. Considerable shipments continue to be made from that 

 island, most of them, it is said, to the European firm of which mention was made in 

 our last Report. 



L ) Westnik jinanzon 1912, No. 33; Plwrm. Ztg. 57 (1912), 778. 



