— 94 — 



Roure-Bertrand Fils 1 ) have ascertained the following values 

 in an ylang ylang oil from Reunion. The figures agree with those 

 of Manila oil: d^o 0,9492, «d — 30 8'. Ester content (calculated as 

 linalyl acetate) 33,6 °/ , total alcohol (calculated as linalool) 40,3 °/o- 

 Soluble in 0,5 to 1 vol. of 90 /o alcohol, followed shortly afterwards 

 by slight cloudiness. 



A Reunion oil examined by us years ago 2 ) showed the high 

 specific gravity of 0,974 (15 ). 



In an article by M. Mucke 3 ) on the plant yielding ylang ylang 

 oil, and the production of the latter, we find inter alia a few details 

 concerning cultivation experiments at Amani which have been 

 carried out by the German Biologico-Agricultural Institute. According 

 to these experiments, the ylang ylang tree appears in the said 

 district not to thrive very well at altitudes of 900 m. ; but it does 

 well at up to 450 m. altitude. Mucke assumes that the limit of 

 altitude of the ylang ylang tree lies between 500 and 550 m. This 

 assumption appears to correspond with the statement by Flacourt 4 ) 

 relating to Reunion, which has a more southerly position and where 

 the limit of altitude of the tree is about 400 m. 



New essential oils. 



Oil from Barosma pulchellum. In addition to the varieties of 

 Barosma which are of interest in the preparation of buchu leaf oil, i. e. 

 Barosma betulinum (Thunb.) Bartl. et WendL, B. crenulatum (L.) Hook., 

 and B. serratifolium (Curt.) Willd., the leaves of other species have 

 lately been met with in the London market on several occasions. 

 Some years ago, Sage 5 ) reported on leaves of Diosma succulentum 

 var. Bergianum, known as Karoo Buchu, which are reputed to yield 

 an oil equalling that of Barosma betulinum in value. In other quarters, 

 however, leaves have also been noticed of which the oil, by its mere 

 odour, betrays a composition differing materially from that of the 

 ordinary buchu leaf oil. The leaves of Barosma pulchellum (L.) Bartl. 

 et WendL, as well as those probably derived from Agathosma variabile 

 (Lond.) belong to the latter category. The last-named leaves have 

 also been described by Sage 6 ) who, on account of their anise-like 



1 ) Berichte of Roure-Bertand Fils, October 1908, 29. 



2 ) Grildemeister and Hoffmann, The Volatile Oils, p. 364. 



3 ) Der Pflanzer 4 (1908) 257. 



4 ) Comp. Report April 1904, 89. 



5 ) Chemist and Druggist 65 (1904), 506, 717. Report April 1905, 12. 



6 ) Pharmaceutical Journal 80 (1908), 125. 



