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distilling-material have failed so far. The imperfections of the imported 

 oils appear in most cases to be the result of primitive distilling-plants, 

 for only in sporadic cases could deliberate adulteration be detected. At 

 times the demand was not particularly brisk, but the bulk of our imports 

 has been used for the preparation of our terpeneless bay oil, which has 

 enjoyed an increasing popularity in spite of its high price. 



The experiments in the cultivation of the bay tree (Pimento, acris, 

 Kostel.; N. O. Myrtaceas) which have been carried out at Montserrat have 

 been attended with a fair measure of success 1 ). In the year 1908, 850 

 year- old seedlings per acre were planted at distances of 6 feet, in 

 rows 9 feet apart, cotton being selected to fill the spaces between the 

 rows of seedlings. The first crop of leaves was gathered in June 1911, 

 when the shrubs were 6 feet high. From 100 lbs. leaves 16 oz. (= 1 p. c.) 

 oil was obtained. The bay-shrub has also been planted in another part 

 of the island. Each year the yield of leaves per acre has shown an 

 increase: in 1905 it was 2660 lb., and in 1910 8844 lb., representing 425 

 and 1414 oz. oil respectively. 



Birch Bud Oil. The manufacture of birch oil hair-washes, §c, as 

 yet shows no signs of diminution, and our oil has therefore enjoyed a 

 continued sustained demand. Raw material has lately been sparingly 

 offered, and for this reason we regard it as not improbable that the price 

 of oil will advance in the near future. 



Buchu Leaf Oil. We have at last succeeded in acquiring a small 

 parcel of pure oil with a normal content of buchu camphor, but as this 

 parcel only amounts to a few kilos we must continue to describe the 

 article as unchanged and firm. Suitable raw material is still wanting and 

 as yet it is therefore impossible to manufacture buchu leaf oil on the 

 scale of former years. 



Cajuput Oil. During the summer-months the state of the market 

 has been very quiet. Although supplies did not arrive very plentifully, the 

 demand was on the whole stagnant, and this condition of things is so 

 chronic that we came to the conclusion several years ago that the use 

 of cajuput oil is declining more and more. That in the producing districts 

 telso cajuput has lost much of its importance is evident from the mere 

 fact that for some time it has ceased to be enumerated in the official 

 list of exports from Macassar. 



Calamus Oil. As there has been no lack of excellent raw material 

 at advantageous prices, this oil has continued to be available at low rates. 

 No alterations in price are to be recorded. 



*) Report of the Botanic Station, Montserrat 1910 — 1911, p. 16. Quoted from Bull. Imp. 

 Inst. 10 (1912), 147. 



