— i 9 — 



From a new, likewise unknown Andropogon variety 1 ) an oil was 

 obtained at Buitenzorg with a laevorotatory power of 4 8', lack of 

 material preventing the determination of further constants. 



Possibly the last-named oil may have originated from the same 

 plant of which Dr. de Jong, of Buitenzorg, kindly sent us a small 

 sample of oil, with the observation that it had been obtained from a 

 yet unknown variety of Andropogon. In order to distinguish this one 

 from that previously referred to 2 ) we will designate it as "Andropogon 

 variety no. 2". This oil was pale yellow and had a peculiar odour, 

 reminding at the same time of fatty aldehydes and of geraniol or 

 methylheptenone; d 15 o 0,9961; «d — 2 ; n D20° I >5 12 36; acid no. 3,6; 

 ester no. 7,3; soluble in 1 vol. of 80 per cent, alcohol; when 3 vols. 

 are added the sample becomes cloudy. The oil reacted with bisulphite 

 of sodium, and the product of reaction, when decomposed with carbon- 

 ate of soda solution, yielded a fatty aldehyde which is possibly ident- 

 ical with decylic aldehyde, but which could not be examined in detail 

 on account of the insufficiency of the material available. 



Angelica Oils. In October last, as we reported at the time, the 

 moment when the newly - distilled oil would be available was looked 

 for with much impatience, and everywhere high prices had to be 

 paid. Naturally, growers in Thuringia took advantage of the favourable 

 position of the market for angelica root, and as a result of the strong 

 competition it was difficult to obtain supplies. Our own cultivations have 

 yielded an excellent material, and have enabled us to complete our 

 supplies with a distillate of exquisite quality. The prices of pure 

 angelica root oil ranged at first from 90 to 95 marks per kilo, but 

 gradually advanced to 140 marks, and are still threatening to increase 

 further. This movement of prices indicates that in all probability we 

 are approaching a similar, if not still more severe, scarcity as that 

 which prevailed last year, and that this season, too, far less oil will 

 be produced than is required. Angelica seed was so dear that we 

 did not feel inclined to risk distilling it, and for this reason we are 

 not quoting angelica seed oil in our price list. Fortunately the 

 demand for this article was so insignificant that its absence was not 

 followed by any inconvenience. 



Anise Oil. The comparatively low prices of the previous autumn, 

 which enabled us again to take up the distillation of Russian aniseed, 

 unfortunately did not last long, and we were therefore unable to secure 

 even an approximately sufficient supply for our requirements. The 

 aniseed market gradually advanced by 6 to 7 marks per 100 kilos, 

 because a strong demand for export, especially to France, was ex- 



*) Ibidem. 



2 ) Report November 1908, 72. 



