Commercial and scientific notes on essential oils. 33 



This rise was chiefly due to the vivid demand from abroad, but it was accentuated 

 by the supposition that the lasting rain would seriously damage the blossom. Besides, 

 speculative purchases were made to a very gteat extent, with a view to force the 

 article into an upward movement. This scheme did not succeed, however, owing to 

 the buyers' refusal to pay the high prices demanded and to the approaching new crop. 

 A firmer tendency, noticed in March, was only temporary, and at present the article 

 is rather neglected, the same as^ the other Citrus oils. , 



According to official statistics 1 ), the Italian orange crop originated as follows: — 

 Sicily 57 per cent, Calabria 20 per cent., Campania 16 per cent., Apulia 3 per cent, Li- 

 guria 0.7 per cent, other districts 3.3 per cent. Only! second-rate fruits are used for 

 manufacturing the oil, 70000 oranges being required for producing 100 Sicilian pounds, 

 equal to about 70 English pounds. According to the statistics of the Exchequer, the 

 exports of bitter and sweet orange oils were as follows: — 



1917 .... 72347 k°* to the value of 2532145 Lire 



1918 .... 49109 „ „ „ „ „ 1964360 „ 



1919 .... 103913 „ „ „ „ „ 4156520 „ 



France, the United States and England were the principal importers. 



In 1919, Jamaica exported 168415 lbs. of orange oil. According to an English 

 periodical 2 ), this large shipment was due to the exceptionally good price obtainable 

 for the oil. Jamaica's capacity for orange production is nearly a million boxes at 

 present Within ten years this output might be doubled, if she could obtain a regular 

 profitable market. But the prohibitive U.S.A. tariff against Jamaican fruit and restricted 

 shipping to the United Kingdom held back orange cultivation. The Jamaica Agricultural 

 Society is urging the Government of the Island to make further representations to the 

 Canadian Government for a preferential duty on West Indian fruit. This the Canadian 

 Government have so far declined to do, alleging that the British West Indies can only 

 supply a small portion of the amount required. Jamaica replies that, given such 

 encouragement, there would at once be a responsive effort in making her neglected 

 trees more productive, and new plantations would be engaged in, for certain districts 

 in the island have such conditions as make orange cultivation their best industry. 



P.Mirgodin 3 ) describes a so-called "new" machine, constructed by the "Ecuelles Ltd." 

 and invented by two West Indian planters, with the aid of which the essential oil can 

 be obtained from the various citrus fruits. He states that from 0.5 to 1 oz. of lemon 

 oil and 2 to 3 ozs. of orange oil or oil of limes can be got from one bushel of fruits. 

 The machine is constructed in three different sizes. It results from Mirgodin's description 

 that the peeling process, described years ago by Hood and discussed by us 4 ) is here 

 referred to. 



A disease which occurs in most citrus-growing countries and is fairly prevalent 

 in Australia, the so-called collar rot 5 ), often escapes the notice of the growers until 

 serious damage has been done. Its appearance and treatment are described in Agric. 

 Gaz., New South Wales (1920, 31, 439). Collar rot manifests itself most frequently by 

 "gumming" on the trunk just above or close to the ground. In many cases the bark 

 in the vicinity is dry and brittle. In young trees the leaves show "yellowing", or 

 chlorosis, especially on terminal twigs, but in older trees chlorosis may not develop 



*) H. C. Holtz, Chern. Weekblad 18 (1921), 108. — 2 ) Perfum. Record 12 (1921), 184. — 3 ) Parfiim. moderne 

 14 (1921), 257. — *) pomp. Bericht (German) 1920, 32. — 6 ) Bull. Imp. Inst.lS (1920), 437. 



3 



