22 



of cress: d^Qo 0,8937, «d — 0,1 6°, citral content 44%, phenol 

 content io°/ ; the oil dissolved completely even in 60 per cent, al- 

 cohol. Unfortunately the volumetric proportion of solubility is not 

 stated. 



Calamus Oil, Javanese. A calamus oil distilled by Dr. Carthaus 

 in Java has been examined at the Botanical Institute in Buitenzorg x ). 

 It possessed the following constants: d26° 1,06, ap -j-o°52 / , sap. no. 9. 



We have had an opportunity of examining two calamus oils from 

 the same source which behaved very similarly. They had a yellow 

 colour and a faint calamus odour. The constants of the one were: 

 di 5 o 1,0783, «d+o° 53', n D 20° i,55°43> ester no. 12; of the other: 

 di5° 1*0771, «d4-o°5 i/ j n D20° 1*55065. The oils here referred to 

 differ from ordinary calamus oil in their greater specific gravity, their 

 much lower rotation, and their higher index of refraction. In normal 

 calamus oil these values range within the following limits: d^o 0,96 

 to 0,97, «d-[~9 to ~l~3 l0 > D B20° about 1,506. Moreover, the Java- 

 nese oils are already soluble (with slight separation of paraffin) in 

 1 to 1,5 vol. of 70 per cent, alcohol, while ordinary calamus oil is 

 only soluble in 90 per cent, alcohol (in almost every proportion). 



Camphor Oil. There has been very little change in the ten- 

 dency of the camphor oil market during the course of the past five 

 months. The dull state of business, as well as the fact that the 

 existence of important supplies tied the hands of those interested, 

 caused a further reduction in the quotations, and even at the present 

 moment holders in Japan are inclined to accept reduced offers. The 

 shipments from Japan were quite insignificant, except as regards a few 

 thousand cases which were exported to the United States. Within 

 the past few weeks camphor has shown a somewhat more animated 

 tendency, which is probably accounted /6r by the fact that, since prices 

 have reached a lower level than has .been known for a very long 

 time, the competition of artificial camphor may be regarded as entirely 

 removed. For the present we regard it as very little probable that 

 this firmer tendency will also influence the camphor oil market, es- 

 pecially in view of the enormous quantities which must have accu- 

 mulated in Japan. 



Wit regard to camphor plantations in Ceylon, the American Vice- 

 Consul W. C. Doyle 2 ) reports that in 1907 the area under cultivation 

 was increased from 142 to 1106 acres, and that for 1908 apparently 

 a still greater increase was projected. As a result of these extensions a 



*) Jaarboek van het Departement van Landbouw in Nederlandsch- Indie 1907, 

 67. Batavia 1908. 



2 ) Oil, Paint and Drug Reporter 74 (1908), No. 23, page 52. 



