Commercial and scientific notes on essential oils. 13 



The pale-yellow camphor leaf oil had the following constants: — d|§ 0.9165; 

 «dsoo -{-32.740°; n D30 o 1.47; camphor 38 per cent. The distillation (705 mm.) gave the 

 following fractions: — 150 to 190°, 41.7 percent. (d|° 0.8795; [«] + 25.55°; n D 1,463); 

 190 to 212° 39 per cent, (semisolid, containing 22.2 percent, of camphor); above 212°, 

 19.3 per cent. The three fractions were further separated into 15 fractions (155 to 240° 

 and above) in which the following bodies were identified: — d-a-pinene (nitrolpiperide, 

 m. p. 118 to 119°); dipentene (tetrabromide (m. p. 125°); cineole (2.1 per cent., phos- 

 phoric acid method); terpineol; caryophyllene 1 ) (the nitrosate decomposed at 173°; 

 caryophyllene alcohol, m. p. 95 to 96°); traces of cadinene (reaction with acetic 

 anhydride and concentrated sulphuric acid); blue oil (b. p. 170 to 210° [40 mm]). 

 Safrole, which was identified in the camphor wood oil, was not present. 



The twig oil was dark brown and had the constants : — d|| 0.8777 ; n D30O 1 .473 ; it 

 contained camphor, no cineole, and otherwise the same constituents as the leaf oil. 



The pale-yellow camphor wood oil had the constants d|| 0.9313; [<*] + 34.44°; 

 n D 3oo 1.4767; it contained safrole, caryophyllene and cadinene, but no cineole and no 

 blue oil. In a fraction of high boiling point a terpene was isolated which was probably 

 identical with camphoracene (? camphorene is possibly meant), the dipentene 2 ) found 

 by Semmler and Rosenberg. 



The authors come to the conclusion that the distillation of the leaves cut from 

 camphor trees may well repay itself. It should, however, further be investigated, how 

 many times the leaves may be reaped, and what amount of camphor and camphor oil 

 may then be expected. 



Caraway Oil.— There are unfortunately no statistics available concerning the Dutch 

 caraway market. It is said that there are still some 70 or 80000 bales from different 

 harvests, partly of very doubtful quality, on sale in Holland, a large portion of which 

 is in the hands of speculators. The last harvest yielded at the best 18000 bales, the 

 greater portion of which has already gone abroad. There is a strong temptation to sell 

 seed of 1920 mixed with old seed in order to get rid of the stocks of inferior old caraway, 

 and it is probably owing to this reason that the samples of the last harvest submitted 

 for examination have largely shown little-satisfactory oil contents. The prices for old 

 seeds have dropped from 40 fl. per 50 kilos (war price) gradually down to 14 to 15 fl., 

 whilst in 1920 seed fetched a better price, although large business has hardly been done. 

 There is reason now to talk of a firmer tone in the market, because little caraway is 

 said to have been cultivated last year and this spring, the peasants not feeling tempted 

 by the prices. In view of the large stocks of which we have spoken the hopes of a 

 rise in prices appear yet unjustified. 



In Germany much caraway from East Frisia andThuringia has gone to the distilleries, 

 because the present valuta made the purchase of Dutch seeds difficult, and people were 

 naturally inclined to give the German products preference. 



The caraway plant, the roots and fruit of which are utilised by the Arabs as a spice, 

 is cultivated in Morocco, particularly near Mekinez. In the year 1917 about 10 tons, 

 corresponding to two-thirds of the harvest of caraway seeds, were exported 3 ). 



Champaca Oil. — With regard to champaca oil from the Philippines, see page 85 

 of this Report. • 



*) Caryophyllene has so far not been observed in camphor oils. — 2 ) Cf. Report October 1913, 34. 

 -) Rev. ties produits chim. 22 (1919), 647. 



