_ 76 - 



Fils found one of the two oils prepared from fresh Java leaves to 

 possess the following constants: di 5 o 0,91 12, «d -j-o° 52', sap. no. 4,1, 

 soluble in 8,5 vols, and more of 90 per cent, alcohol. In our case, 

 both these oils were found to be laevorotatory, to have a higher 

 specific gravity and to be more readily soluble. 



From a paper read in Berlin by Prof. Preuss 1 ) we observe that 

 experimental distillations have been made of wild patchouli plants from 

 New Guinea. The oil yield was 3,75% and the experiment was so 

 promising that it is intended to commence the cultivation of patchouli 

 there. A similar specimen - distillate examined by us showed the 

 following constants: diso 0,9847, <* D — 58 10', sap. no. 1,8, ester no. 

 8,4, soluble in 0,4 vol. and more of 9O°/ alcohol. 



Peppermint Oil, American. During the last six months the 

 market has offered little of interest, and the prices showed a falling- 

 tendency, as the demand has not been proportionate to the supply. 



The yield of the 1908 crop was smaller than that of the two 

 preceding years, but the existence of sufficiently large stocks held over 

 from 1906 and 1907 more than compensated for the reduction, and 

 even if in the coming season there should be a further restriction in 

 the laying down of new plantations, there will yet remain quite suf- 

 ficient oil for disposal. 



The farmers are to a large extent losing their interest in cul- 

 tivation, and it is becoming more difficult every season to find special 

 qualities, as not sufficient new plantations are laid down, and the 

 old plantations, owing to the low market prices, are not attended to 

 and cleaned with sufficient care. 



Our stock for the next months to come has been excellently assorted 

 by timely purchases, and we believe that at the prices now prevailing, 

 which are still low, we are justified in advising our clients to supply 

 their wants quickly and plentifully. 



Peppermint Oil, French. In their last Bericht Roure-Bertrand 

 Fils 2 ) make some statements with regard to observations on pepper- 

 mint oils from Grasse, which we here reproduce shortly. Two oils 

 distilled in 1907 and 1908 behaved as follows: — 



<ll5° 



aD . . . . . 

 Menthyl acetate . 

 Total menthol 



1907 



Crude Rectified 



0,9210 



-13° 4 

 13,5 °/o 



49,8% 



0,9198 

 -i 7 °6' 



13,7 °/o 



53,5% 



1908 



Crude Rectified 



0,9156 

 — i5°28' 



15,4% 

 52,2% 



o,9i59 

 -i6°5o' 



13,3% 

 54,9% 



*) Berichte d. deutsch. pharm. Ges. 19 (1909), 25. 



2 ) Berichte of Roure-Bertrand Fils, October 1908, 23. 



