Chemical Preparations and Drugs. 113 



necessity of restricting the supply of free samples of these articles. The practice of 

 selling them in 10 p. c. alcoholic solutions has so far proved suitable. 



Almond Oil, pressed, from Almonds (German Pharmacopoeia V). In spite 



of the favourable crops which have been gathered in Sicily and Apulia, and of the 

 comparatively slight demand for export, the prices have steadily risen within the last 

 six months. It is reported that in view of the good prospects of the crop the exporters 

 made numerous sales abroad without covering themselves, after which speculators 

 took advantage of the purchases made to cover the commitments by driving up the 

 prices. Girgenti-almonds of 1 st quality, which were worth 195 cM per 100 kilos last 

 October, are now offered at about 220 o4l. Unfortunately quite lately rumours of 

 repeated damage by frost have greatly unsettled the position of the market, especially 

 because the possibility of further similar climatic influences will continue to exist for 

 weeks to come. It would nevertheless be too early at present to draw any conclusions 

 of the final result of the new crop. As a result the quotations for delivery after the 

 new crop are very high, and we shall be compelled to follow suit with our quotations 

 for pressed almond oil as soon as our cheap stocks are approaching exhaustion. 



The cultivation of almonds in Sicily has been steadily assuming greater dimensions 

 for some years past; the almond districts round about Girgenti having been much 

 extended. We hear that not merely one variety of almond trees is being planted, but 

 several bastard-species as well, which flower at different periods, so that the crop 

 will henceforth not be so greatly dependent upon the weather during the flowering- 

 period. This system is the more to be recommended because it contributes to equalise 

 the average yield of the crop. It must further be borne in mind that those varieties 

 of trees which owing to unfavourable weather during the flowering time yield none or 

 little fruit that year, usually bear exceptionally well in the following year. 



The increase of the production in recent years is well shown by the following 

 figures, giving the quantities of almonds shipped from the port of Palermo: — 



1907 ... . 530 tons; approximate value € 590000 — 



1908 ... . 920 „ „ „ „ 1150000 — 



1909 ... . 750 „ „ „ „ 1290000.— 



1910 .... 1599 „ „ „ „ 2530000.— 



1911 ... . 1458 „ „ „ „ 2100000 — 



Almond Oil, pressed, from Apricot Kernels. Notwithstanding the briskness 

 of the turnover, the winter went by without bringing the advance in prices which, in 

 our last Report, we designated as probable. We were able to cover our considerable 

 requirements of apricot kernels at advantageous prices, and the war in the Balkans 

 did not in any way affect the course of the market. So far it is impossible to say 

 anything with regard to the prospects of the article. 



Our informants in Syria send us the following account of the situation in the 

 apricot kernel market there: — 



When the commercial relations between Turkey and Italy were resumed, it 

 was generally hoped here that there would be an increased demand for apricot 

 kernels on the part of the Italians, but this expectation has not been realised, 

 because in the meantime those Italian buyers who purchase apricot kernels as 

 comestibles (in which trade Italy plays a part of some importance) had become 

 accustomed to Japanese and Chinese kernels, and were covering their requirements 

 not only in japan and China, but also in Morocco and Spain. As a result the 

 demand has practically been altogether lacking, in spite of which the prices repeatedly 



