COMMERCIAL NOTES AND SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION. 73 
consists principally of methyl cinnamate, the oil of Ocimum gratissimum contains con- 
siderable quantities of phenols. The golden-yellow oil examined by the firm Roure- 
Bertrand Filst) was distilled at Dabakala (Ivory Coast). Its odour was exactly like 
that of ajowan oil, and its constants were as follow: dis0 0,9105, ¢p + 0°58’, sol. in 
1,2 vols. of 80 p.c. alcohol. It contained 44 p.c. phenols. The presence of thymol 
was ascertained by the m. p. (49,5 to 50,5°). 
The botanical examination of the raw material was caried out by E. G. Camus. 
Recently we received a similar oil from Central Africa. It possessed the follo- 
wing characters: diso 0,9055, «a» +.0° 50’, npeoo 1,49373, acid v. 0,4, ester v. 3,5, not 
completely soluble in 10 vols. of 70 p.c. alcohol, but soluble in 9 vols. a.m. of 80 p.c. 
alcohol with a minimum opalescence, and also in half its own vol. a. m. of 90 p.c. 
alcohol. The oil had a pale-brown colour and a thyme-like aroma. It contained 
35 p.c. thymol. 
Olibanum Oil. See under Frankincense Oil, page 62. 
Orris Oil. Our informants in Leghorn have sent us the following report which, 
as usual, we reproduce textually: — 
Referring to our report on Florentine orris-root of last September, we are 
to-day in a position to confirm the statement that the crop of the season 1913/14 
has yielded a maximum of . . .« 690 tons. 
Up to the end of February 1914, there has aa 1 shipped t to Germany, 
France, England, and America. . . DOU 55 
Leaving an available balance on March 1 a : see at OO fons 
Of this quantity about 70 tons are still in the hands of some of the larger 
producers, who command plenty of capital and have therefore been able, in 
anticipation of higher prices, to keep their supplies off the market. In the 
present season speculators have preferred to restrict their operations owing to 
the high prices and the loss of interest and general risk involved thereby; hence 
the quantity of which they still dispose is estimated at present at about 30 tons 
only, of, which the larger part must probably be used to cover current contracts. 
This season, during the months of September to December, the United States 
have bought a great deal more Florentine orris root in Europe than they usually 
do, and as for the rest, the consumption in Europe has not diminished, but has 
rather been stationary, and the tendency of prices since the beginning of the 
season has steadily been upwards. The first transactions of new root this 
season were put through on the basis of 150.— Ivre per 100 kilos taken at the 
place of production, and to-day it is impossible to buy from any of the growers 
at less than 170.— Lire per 100 kilos, at the place of production. From 
September 1913 up to the present time there has been no sign of any weakening 
of the market and the opinion is general that prices may rise still further, 
because consumers will still require considerable quantities before next September, 
when the new root comes to market. Although the above may appear to bea 
very Optimistic view on the part of the growers, it is nevertheless probable, in 
the face of the prevailing scarcity of available root, that the present prices may 
at least be maintained without difficulty until the end of the season. 
As regards the new crop of Florentine orris root, it is very difficult at 
at present to make estimates of any accuracy. But taking into account that 
new plantations will be ready to produce crops next season it may be expected 
with some confidence that, barring disease or other unforeseen happenings, the 
coming crop will give a larger outturn than did the last. 
Pagsainguin Oil. In our Report of October 1907, p. 40, we described a sample 
of oil which had been sent to us at the time by the Bureau of Science at Manila 
1) Berichte von Roure-Bertrand Fils October 1913, 21. 
