18 Report of Schimmel § Co. 1922. 



indications, no visible varietal characters can be found in any part of the tree to 

 separate "camphor" trees from "oil" trees. Dunn suggests the following lines of 

 improvement for plantations of camphor trees: (1) Seeds should be secured from trees 

 known to produce camphor, (2) suitable climate and soil should be selected, (3) saplings 

 must be planted so that they may be clipped conveniently; (4) the best months for 

 clipping must be ascertained by experiment, as observations show considerable changes 

 in the camphor content of the leaves as the growing season advances. 



Cananga Oil. — It is reported that the distillation of this article in Java is no longer 

 remunerative at the present price obtained for it in Europe, i. e. 10 to 12 Dutch Florins 

 per kilo, especially because the producers lack cheap fuel. According to our informants, 

 the distillation stopped almost completely in 1921, all the oil shipped being of 1920 

 production. As the wages for the collectors of the flowers have doubled since the 

 war, the distillers prefer waiting until they know the consumers' attitude with regard 

 to the higher prices that are to be expected. 



Caraway Oil. — The Dutch caraway market was very firm throughout the year 

 1921. Owing to the small crop (only 15000 bales, i. e. even less than in the previous 

 year), the prices rose during the summer up to about 17 florins, but towards the end 

 of the year they went down a little, to 16 florins, as there was no very keen demand. 

 The stocks of old caraway, which had agglomerated considerably, as we reported 

 previously, have gradually been disposed of, so that the average quality was better 

 than in 1920. One expects very little of the 1922 crop, in fact less than the year 

 before, as the seedlings from spring 1921 had to be ploughed under, owing to the 

 drought in autumn. The quantities available up to the next crop but one, i. e. in 

 August 1923, will most likely prove insufficient for the world's requirements, so that 

 very high prices are to be expected. 



As regards the caraway market in 1920, some information from the Dutch Board 

 of Agriculture is now availabie 1 ), from which we gather that the area under culti- 

 vation was 971 hectares. The crop was small, but there were still considerable stocks 

 of old seed. There was but little business with Central Europe; England and the 

 United States, however, took again the usual quantities. The prices ranged from 

 22 down to 15 florins. Owing to high rent, big wages and expensive manure, the 

 cultivation is said to have become unprofitable, so that it is to be feared that it will 

 be given up. The exports in 1920 totalled 3767 tons to the value of 1412000 florins. 



There were fairly considerable offers of East-Friesian and East-Prussian caraway, 

 but unfortunately the largest part by far- was exported, as the prices paid abroad were 

 tempting. Only comparatively small lots were available for distillation in the country. 

 It is to be regretted that the German Government have not realized so far, how necessary 

 it is to stop the exports of caraway seed. On the other hand, one is pleased to see 

 that the German farmers have given far more attention to the cultivation of caraway 

 and that the success is visible already. 



Oil of Cathetus fasciculata. — In the course of this year we received two samples 

 of the so-called Bruyere oil, distilled in Annam (Further India) from the Euphorbiacea 

 Cathetus fasciculata, Lour. As the oil is but little known, we think the following parti- 

 culars will be of interest: — The samples were pale yellow and yellow, respectively, 



1 ) Verslag omtrent Handel, Xijver-heid en Scheepvaart van Nederland gedurende 1920. 



