— H3 — 



Spearmint Oil. According to the reports from our informant, 

 an abundant crop may this year be expected in the United States, 

 as both in Michigan and in Indiana extensive new plantations have 

 been laid down. The demand for this oil by the American manu- 

 facturers of chewing gum has fallen off considerably, and it is hoped 

 that low prices will prevail in the autumn. We invite firms who desire 

 to treat for large parcels of late delivery to solicit quotations, as through 

 our New York branch we are in an excellent position for supplying 

 the article to advantage. 



Spike Oil. The distillation has been a little in arrear this 

 season, and for the present it is impossible to make any announce- 

 ment as regards the prices of the oil. According to preliminary 

 reports only a moderate output is to be expected in the departments 

 of the Basses-Alpes, Vaucluse, Var, Bouches-du-Rhone, and Drome. 

 The information from the Gard and the Herault is still more indefinite. 



As stated fully in our last November Report 1 ) we discovered in 

 the course of the year 1908 that really good spike oils dissolve in 5 

 to 15 vols, of 60 per cent, alcohol, and that a markedly inferior degree 

 of solubility may probably invariably be due to adulteration. We 

 therefore suggested that it be made a condition that spike oil should 

 give a clear solution with 15 to 20 vols, of 60 per cent, alcohol and 

 at the same time we stated that it would be our endeavour hence- 

 forth to supply only oils which stood this test. Unfortunately the 

 wish which we then expressed that we might always be able to 

 observe these conditions has not been fully realised. In spite of the 

 most painstaking efforts we have not succeeded in covering our re- 

 quirements of superior, readily soluble spike oil altogether at normal 

 prices, and we have therefore decided henceforth to list two varieties 

 of spike oil, namely an easily soluble quality (1 : 15 to 20 vols. 60 per 

 cent, alcohol), and the present variety, soluble in 70 per cent, alcohol 

 (1 : 1,5 to 3 vols.). 



Star anise Oil. There is not much to be reported concerning 

 this article. In the course of the summer some important transactions 

 were put through at 4/-, after which the quotations again advanced 

 by about 2 d., and at this level they appear to be inclined to stay, 

 notwithstanding the dull tendency of the Chinese silver-market. Hence 

 it may be surmised that no heavy stocks remain in China. 



Tansy Oil. The price of this article, which is a speciality of 

 our New York branch, has fortunately been somewhat reduced in the 

 course of the last few months, and when this year's distillate from 



*) Report November 1908, 115. 



