FEB) 1007.] 67 0ils and Fats - 



We need not enter more fully into the further details given by Wright on 

 valuation and judging of citronella oil, as these appear to be chiefly based upon the 

 work of Sage, with which we have already dealt in our last Report. We also 

 consider that the content of geraniol represents the principal factor in judging the 

 value of citronella oil ; but Schimmel's test, carried out by itself, will, according 

 to our experience, always give useful data for a rapid test of the quality of a 

 citronella oil. Report of Schimmel & Co. November 1906. 



LEMONGRASS OIL. 

 As already predicted in our April Report, a reaction has at last come in the 

 price of this article, and the market has dropped from 8£d. per oz. in April to 3d. 

 per oz. It is to be hoped that the remunerative prices of last year have not induced 

 the planters to extend their plantations too much, for in such case they would 

 undoubtedly suffer a very severe disappointment. Although the oil of Backhousia 

 citriodora, with an aldehyde-content of about 98%, consisting chiefly of citral, has 

 not yet been shipped in large parcels, it can (as we hear from an absolutely reliable 

 source) be supplied in such quantities, and in spite of the high wages in Australia, in 

 case of need at such a low price, that lemon grass oil, even at a price of 3d. to 4d. per 

 oz., can no longer come under consideration for the manufacture of citral. We think 

 it well, however, to point out to the Australian optimists that the citral manufacture 

 is by no means exclusively dependent upon lemongrass oil and Backhousia oil, but 

 that other cheap raw material has also to be taken into account. 



The shipments from Cochin during last season, i. e. from 1st July 1905 to 30th 

 June 1900, amounted to :— 



190i cases to London 

 100 ,, ,, Havre 

 200 ,, „ Marseilles 



2181/3 „ „ Hamburg 



330! „ „ New York 



1230 1/12 „ ,, Asiatic ports (Bombay and possibly 

 subsequently Europe) 



Total 2269 5/12 cases. 



For the sake of comparison, we quote here again the shipments of the last few 

 years :— 



1904-1905 1881J cases 

 1903-1904 2222| „ 

 1902-1903 2806 „ 

 Through the kindness of Mr. P. Bussy we received a sample of lemongrass oil 

 which had been distilled in the Government laboratory at Saigon (Cochin China). It 



a o 



had the following properties : d o 0,8917 ; D-0 10 ; aldehyde-content about 82% ; in- 



15 



soluable in 10 vol. 70 per cent, alcohol ; soluble in 0,9 vol. 80 per cent, alcohol, when 

 more solvent is added soon strong turbidity ; with 90 per cent, alcohol it forms at 

 first a clear solution, but when more than 1,5 vol. are added, cloudiness occurs. 

 According to these results the oil behaves like the West-Indian and African lemon- 

 grass oils, which we have repeatedly referred to in our Reports*). Owing to the 

 deficient solubility, the oil has a lower commercial value than tha ordinary East 

 Indian lemongrass oil.— Report of Schimmel & Co. November 1906. 



*) Comp. Report April 1906. 44 : also October 1902 50 : April 1903, 23, 49 ; October 1903, 46 ; October 

 904, 53; April 1904, 84. 



