— io6 



Notes on recent research work concerning 

 terpenes and terpene derivatives. 



General. 



According to an article quoted from the Bulletin mensuel de 

 r Office du Gouvernement Tunisien 1 ) the cultivation of essential oil 

 yielding plants in Tunis has not attained that importance which pro- 

 perly belongs to it, because of the competition of Grasse and Germany, 

 and also because heavy customs duties are levied in France on essential 

 oils. Nevertheless, in the peninsula of Cap-Bon, especially at Hammamet 

 and Nabeul, the natives grow geranium, tuberose and bitter orange 

 on a small scale. 



Pelargonium capitatum ("geranium rosat") is often cultivated 

 for the manufacture of spurious rose oil. Oil prepared in a primitive 

 manner sells at from 15 to 20 fr. per kilo, while if it is distilled in 

 the proper way as much as 30, and occasionally even 40 fr. is paid 

 for it. Cuttings cost about 2 fr. a thousand. The average cost of the 

 necessary tilling of the soil is 40 fr., of the planting 35 fr., and of the 

 working of the ground, which has to be done three times, 30 fr. The 

 crops, which are gathered in April, August, and October, involve a total 

 expenditure of about 90 fr. A hectare produces about 20 kilos of oil. 



Orange flowers, For the preparation of neroli oil, the variety 

 bouquetier de Nice is the most suitable. Petitgrain oil, which is worth 

 little, is obtained by distilling the leaves. In Tunis the flowers are 

 not distilled, but only sold. According to its age, a plantation con- 

 taining 150 trees per hectare may produce from 2500 to 4000 kilos 

 of flowers. These are bought up by distillers at 30 fr. or more, and 

 on exceptional occasions at up to 50 fr. per 50 kilos. For some time 

 past a French firm has been planting the bouquetier de Nice variety 

 at Nabeul, while another firm buys the entire fresh flower crop there 

 every year. 



Acacia Farnesiana occurs in varieties with scented and with scentless 

 flowers. Even in the dry districts >t ' flourishes very satisfactorily. The 

 plant requires only little water and hardly any attention, and so far as 

 the quantity of flowers produced is concerned, its cultivation might 

 yield a good supply for the perfumery industry. 



Jasmine. Jasminum grandiflorum is preferred for the preparation 

 of the perfume. The plant is grown from cuttings, which are placed 

 at distances of 1 / 2 m. The flowers are not distilled in Tunis, but 

 they are an article of commerce, and sell at 2 to 3 fr. per kilo. In 



8 ) Journ. de la Parfumerie et Savonnerie 22 (1909), 6. 



