110 Report of Schimmel § Co. April/October 1917. 



possible to predict whether the demand will continue; the latest news seem to indicate 

 that there is a decrease in the consumption. 



The cultivation of aromatic plants. — In a treatise about the cultivation of important 

 medicinal plants, B. Pater 1 ) says something about angelica. Only fresh seeds germinate, 

 and if possible the seeds of the same year ought to be taken for sowing in autumn. 

 Pater's self-grown seeds germinated, it is true, when sown in the following spring, but 

 the results were better with autumn sowing. 



Elecampane thrives better after autumn sowing, although spring sowing may be 

 successful as well ; sometimes, however, this fails altogether, owing to drought. Coriander, 

 valerian, white and black mustard, hyssop and rue prosper also when sown in spring. 

 Mustard, which germinates very quickly, must even been sown in spring. 



Cultivation of aromatic plants in the Caucasus. — A good many years ago already, 

 it was tried to rear plants in the Caucasus yielding essential oils, and it is said that 

 in the beginning of this century an exellent otto of roses was obtained in Kachetia 

 (Government of Tiflis) from Bulgarian roses 2 ). In recent times, attempts have been 

 made in Suchum experimental gardens to ascertain how oil supplying plants might be 

 cultivated successfully in Batoum 3 ). Already in 1899, Becklemichev had cultivated there 

 Eucalyptus Globulus, E. Maideni, E. amygdalina, E. viminalis, E. pulverulenta, and other 

 species, with a view to obtain oil from them. These experiments have not been con- 

 tinued, however, after his death. It resulted that the leaves picked in spring afforded 

 the best yield in oil, which was 0.7 per cent., instead of 0.6 per cent, for Eucalyptus 

 Globulus, and 2.2 per cent., instead of 1.8 per cent, for Eucalyptus pulverulenta. The dried 

 leaves gave still better yields and permitted of making considerable economies with 

 regard to fuel, the quality of the oils remaining the same. The eucalyptol contents 

 exceeded 40 percent. As to costs per hectare, the installation is estimated at 1200 francs, 

 the annual expenses at 500 francs, and the yield at from 1200 to 1400 francs, so that a 

 factory with 65000 to 80000 francs of capital would pay 13 to 30 per cent, of interests. 

 Experiments to cultivate Mentha Pulegium (pennyroyal) failed. The yield in oil was 

 0.4 per cent, from fresh and 1.09 per cent, from dried herb. 



Camphor leaves (from Cinnamomum Camphora) afforded 0.9 per cent, of crude 

 camphor, containing 22.6 per cent, of camphor oil and 76.4 per cent, of camphor. 



Bibliographical Notes. 



"Heil- und Gewurzpflanzen" (medicinal and spice plants) is the title of a monthly 

 paper published since July last by the Hortus society, in connection with the Munich 

 publishing firm of }. F. Lehmann. It is intended to foster the cultivation and the collec- 

 tion of herbs, so as to amplify our native flora and to enable us, so to speak, to pro- 

 duce in our own country substitutes for all such drugs from the import of which we 

 are cut off at present. The editors are Drs. H. Ross and R. Escales, whereas a number 

 of other known experts are mentioned as collaborators. 



Henning's book "Der GerucW has been discussed on page 123 of this Report. 



x ) Pharm. Post 1916. As per a special reprint kindly sent us. — s ) Comp. Beport April 1900, 39. — 

 3 ) Bullet, mens, d.rens. agric. et des maladies d.plantes 1916, November; Olien en vetten (Amsterdam) 1 (1917), 276. 



