208 



The Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist 



April report, the prices show no fluctuations 

 worth mentioning. The present quotations are 

 just about the same as six months ago, viz., 11 d. 

 cif., and there do not appear to be at this mo- 

 ment any grounds from which a serious harden- 

 ing of the prices for forward delivery could 

 be deduced." Referring to the exports from 

 Ceylon, a table is given showing a con- 

 siderable increase, on the 1907 figures and on 

 this the report states : " Although there is 

 no question of an increased export as com- 

 pared with the previous year, which might de- 

 press the quotations, we have yet to reckon with 

 the comparatively small amount of interest dis- 

 played in this article by the wholesale soap in- 

 dustry, especially in the United Kingdom, which 

 will also during the next few months scarcely 

 lead to any bettor position of the citronella 

 market." Then follows a curious reference to 

 adulteration of Ceylon Citronella Oil by arrack 

 as follows : — " We may mention here, for curio- 

 sity's sake, that the London Custom house re- 

 cently seized and rejected a rather large parcel, 

 because the oil was adulterated with alcohol. 

 The examination showed about 8°/ alcohol! 

 We may add in explanation that Ceylon 

 produces yearly large quantities of very cheap 

 arrack, and that it was here probably a question 

 of this adulterant. In view of the easiness with 

 which even small admixtures of alcohol can be 

 detected in essential oils, the export firms in 

 Galle will probably have no difficulty in pre- 

 venting the native traders who are respon- 

 sible for this, from continuing this practice." 

 [t may not be generally known, that in 

 Germany citronella oil has recently been ad- 

 mitted as a denaturing agent, and the decree of 

 the Prussian Treasury to this effect is quoted 

 verbatim. The step we note has taken on the 

 recommendation of the Association of Soap 

 Manufacturers of Berlin. Until further notice 

 the decree permits the denaturing of fatty oils 

 with Ceylon citronella oil in the quantity 200 

 grams to 100 kilos of the goods to be denatured. 

 Reference is also made to the discussion at the 

 February meeting of the Agricultural Society of 

 Ceylon on " Schimmel's Test." We quote fcr 

 the benefit of those interested the folllowing : — 



According to Kelway Bamber this test is in- 

 sufficient for judging the oils, and should be 

 amended. Bamber also hopes to be able to 

 find a satisfactory solution of the question. C 

 P Hayley and others, however, lay stress on 

 the fact that the Chamber of Commerce at 

 Galle has unanimously declared that the test 

 satisfies all practical requirements, and that 

 in view of the energy displayed by the buyers, 

 coarse adulteration is at present only rarely 

 met with, Moreover, the consumers are satis- 

 fied with the oil now exported. If absolutely 

 pure oils were wanted, it would only be neces- 

 sary to offer higher prices, corresponding to the 

 higher cost of production. 



These last remarks can hardly be considered 

 satisfactory. In our opinion it would be more 

 correct if everyone endeavoured to place only 

 pure oils on the market, and for this reason 

 one must welcome Bamber's efforts and give 

 them every possible support. It is to be hoped 

 that they will also have the desired effect. Our 



own experience is that the quality of the Ceylon 

 citronella oils has not yet improved as much 

 as might be desired. 



According to The Chemist and Druggist A 

 W Winter is reported to have stated in Ceylon 

 that neither pure Mahapengiri oil, nor a mix- 

 ture of the latter with Lenabatu oil will pass 

 Schimmel's test ; but this is clearly due to a 

 misunderstanding, as tbe Mahapengiri oil (Java 

 citronella oil) originating from Java, which is 

 the only one to be considered for commercial 

 purposes, readily and completely dissolves in 

 80 per cent, alcohol, and it would be very 

 strange indeed if the same species of grass 

 yielded in Ceylon a so difficultly soluble oil, 

 that it could not oven pass Schimmel's test 

 In the meantime the above statement has been 

 corrected by Samara weera of Weligama, but 

 notwithstanding this we have taken steps to ob- 

 tain from Winter an authentic Mahapengiri 

 oil distilled by himself, in order to enable us 

 to clear up this question. 



With regard to Lemongrass Oil Messrs Schim- 

 mel & Co. state that since their last report in 

 April no change worth mentioning has come 

 in the market quotations; the price fell to about 

 lfd to 'id per ounce. The quantities shipped 

 from Cochin China from 1st July, 1907, to 30th 

 June, L908, were about 6,082 cases against 6,239 

 cases in the same period 1906-7 and 2,259 cases 

 in the same period 1905-0. The future prospects 

 are not, however, gloomy. The report states : — 



It is not impossible that with an im- 

 provement in trade generally, the price of 

 lemongrass oil will move upwards, for the con- 

 sumption of this oil is on the increase, and has 

 on the whole been able to keep pace with the 

 supplies, in spite of the depression of the last 

 six months. For this reason the visible stocks 

 have remained comparatively small. The large 

 imports from the West Indies which about a 

 year ago were accumulating in London, and 

 which helped to bring aDout the sudden drop 

 from about 9d in 1905-6 to 2d in 1908, are said to 

 be now for the greater part cleared, and wiil 

 probably not be repeated so quickly, as the pro- 

 ducers, at the present depressed quotations, can 

 no longer make both ends meet in this trade. 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST AND 

 MAGAZINE OF THE C. A. S. 



We would invito attention to the advertise- 

 ments in this issue and to the notice of the 

 appointment of Messrs. Maclaren & Sons, Ltd., 

 37 & 38 Shoe Lane, London, as sole Agents 

 in Great Britain for the Tropical Agricultu- 

 rist. All orders and enquiries from subscrib- 

 ers and advertisers should be addressed to 

 them. 



Bound copies of Volume XXXI. of the 

 U T. A. " (July to Dec. 1908), with full index, 

 can now be purchased at Rs. 10 or 13s. 6d. 

 sterling. 



