— 42 — 
fact is also this, that efforts are made to conclude contracts running 
over several years, which safeguard the seller but not the buyer, as, 
in case of a failure of the harvest, the former is covered by the 
''force majeure" clause, leaving the purchaser to do the best he can. 
Reunion oil is at present very animated. Although prompt oil 
is fairly scarce and is kept still high, the prospects of the new distilling- 
season commencing in April appear to be favourable, and a large 
part of the yield has already been placed in advance at very accept- 
able prices. 
As to ourselves, we have through our representative at St. Denis 
strongly participated in this favourable state of affairs, and we now 
quote this article considerably lower, in accordance with the average 
of our purchases; the following statistics show that at such an exceptionally 
low price no risk is incurred: — 
Quotation on i^^ April 1894, 44 marks per kilo 
xSt 
5? 3? 
1895, 
44 
?7 
jSt 
33 33 
1896, 
43 
7J 
J St 
33 33 
1897, 
40 
J St 
33 33 
1898, 
32 
7J 
J St 
33 33 
1899, 
30 
3> 
J St 
33 33 
1900, 
30 
J> 
J St 
33 33 
19OI, 
38 
5? 
J St 
33 ^ 33 
1902, 
40 
J> 
J St 
33 ^ 33 
i903> 
30 
Our highest quotation was in 1891, at 48 marks per kilo. For 
large contracts we invite correspondence. 
Spanish geranium oil, which in point of quality is not approached 
by any other kind, remains with the limited production an article of 
luxury. For certain purposes this oil is indispensable. 
The prices of the Indian distillate, also called palmarosa oil, 
have suffered a heavy fall, in consequence of a considerably increased 
production combined with an absence of inclination to buy. This fall, 
as compared with the values of the previous season, amounts to about 
50 per cent. Hitherto this oil was only distilled in Khandesh, in Bombay 
Presidency, but lately the production has also been taken up on the 
coast of Madras whence fairly considerable quantities have this year 
already been placed on the market via Bombay, a fact which has also 
influenced the prices. It may be taken for granted that this new 
source of supply will in future form a strong competitor, and that 
the prices will permanently remain low, which would promote the 
consumption. At the present values the article will have all the 
more interest for the soap - manufacturers, as the parcels which have 
appeared on the market were chiefly of such a fine quality as had 
