— 39 — 
We are therefore now face to face with a very small production, 
and the stocks still in hand may possibly at this moment not exceed 
5000 to 6000 kilos. Nobody will therefore be surprised by a further 
increase of the prices beyond their present level. 
The manufacturing season now lying behind us has been extremely 
interesting, as it has brought to the light various anomalies respecting 
the chemico-physical constants of the different oils. 
Rarely has in previous years the effect of the atmospheric condi- 
tions during the ripening period of bergamots, oranges and lemons, 
come so prominently into relief, as in the half-year just closed. 
A matter which is specially striking, is the poor content of essential 
oil of all the various Citrus fruits. 
Orange oil showed on the whole a higher specific gravity than 
hitherto ; sweet Sicilian oil had a lower rotatory power than in prev- 
ious years, but sweet Calabrian oil, on the. other hand, a higher rota- 
tion. Oil of bitter orange had a strikingly high specific gravity — both 
in Calabria and in Sicily, — the average being 0,854 to 0,856; the 
Calabrian oil had a normal rotatory power, but the Sicilian an excep- 
tionally low rotation. 
Various differences, as compared with previous years, could be 
detected in lemon oils from certain districts which are subject to other 
climatic conditions than the district adjoining the Strait of Messina, 
particularly the on the average higher specific gravity of this year's 
lemon oil in most of the producing districts of the island, with ex- 
ceptionally low gravity in some others. 
With regard to the prospects of the coming harvest, nothing can 
as yet be stated with certainty. The smaller crop of last season, and 
the fact that the trees (which are already in full foliage) have been 
brought into an excellent condition by copious rainfall during the 
winter, justify the supposition that the next harvest will have good 
and abundant results if no unfavourable weather-conditions occur during 
the flowering season. 
But good harvests are most necessary, as in the opposite case, in 
view of the low stocks of all these oils, the prices of all the various kinds 
would harden rapidly, and the market during the next nine months 
would be exposed to disagreeable and trade - disturbing fluctuations. 
Eucalyptus Oil. 'Globulus' oil is at present very scarce and 
quoted higher. Algerian sellers have not carried out their contracts, 
and the chances for the Australian product are consequently more 
favourable. The 'Amygdalina' quahty containing phellandrene is abund- 
antly in stock. 
