— 34 — 
The main cause of this upward movement is found in the appar- 
ently not very favourable prospects of the coming harvest; but the 
possibility was not excluded, that part of the badly -flowering trees 
might produce a second bloom, and the rising market was therefore 
looked upon with suspicion from many quarters. Only when, the 
hope of a second flowering period had to be abandoned, and when 
it was clear that the coming harvest would give a result far behind 
that of the last one, the not insignificant party which had not pro- 
vided cover endeavoured to secure the parcels sold in blank; this 
circumstance, favoured by the simultaneous intervention of local 
speculation, caused a mad rush upwards, which early in July brought . 
the article within a few days to the parity of 20 Marks. 
If buyers from abroad had at that price stepped in, further rises 
would have occurred in the course of the last two months; but as 
the consumers had laid in an ample supply ot bergamot oil during 
the last 6 months, it was possible to await events, until the excitement 
had calmed down again. 
This has also happened, if only to a small extent, and the holders 
have gradually reduced their demands down to 18,50 Marks. At the 
same time, the stocks in hand are low, and may perhaps not exceed 
3000 kilos. 
The new crop will be considerably smaller than that of last year. 
It is not possible at this moment to give an approximately correct 
estimate, as the greater or smaller oil-content of the fruit is one of 
the main factors in the result of the quantity produced. It may, 
however, be stated with a fair degree of certainty, that in the majority 
of the producing districts, the quantity of fruit on the trees does not 
exceed one half of that of last year. In view of this it cannot be 
doubted that the prices will rise above the average of the last 8 months. 
The more or less brisk demand from abroad will also have a decided 
effect on the course of the market. 
S. Gulli^) has made some observations on oil of bergamot leaves. 
The distillation of this oil is only carried on to a limited extent; it 
takes place between February and April, when the trees are pruned. 
The yield also is only small (100 kilos leaves give only 150 grams oil), 
and the total annual production, according to Gulli, does not perhaps 
exceed 20 to 25 kilos. The pure oil has a specific gravity of 
about 0,870 to 0,873°, ^i^d optical rotation of -|- 25° to ^ 26°; 
it is soluble in an equal proportion of 90 per cent alcohol. It contains 
about 32 to 34 per cent ester, calculated as linalyl acetate, and, in 
addition to this, also methyl ester of anthranilic acid. 
^) The Chemist and Druggist 60 (1902), 995. 
