— 57 — 
We hear that the project of the etablishment of a factory for the 
production of orris oil in the root-growing districts of Tuscany, which 
we described in our last Report, has up to now not taken any 
tangible form, owing to the illness of the originator of the idea, 
Mr. Pegna. When calmly considering the scheme, that gentleman 
may no doubt arrive at the conclusion that it is not feasible to gather 
such a large number of root-producers under one flag as would here 
be the case; and, further, that the cost of production, in spite of the 
saving in carriage, would be much higher in the case of a factory 
which produces nothing but the single article orris oil, than with an 
existing etablishment which at the same time manufactures hundreds 
of other articles. 
Patchouli Oil. Since our last Report our supplies of patchouH- 
leaves have reached us punctually, with the single exception of a parcel 
of 60 bales per s. s. "Bergedorf", which steamer, as is well known, caught 
fire when off Messina, and reached Hamburg after great delay. For- 
tunately the goods had suffered no damage whatever. 
According to reports from the Straits Settlements, the article is 
now most difficult to procure, as it is impossible to obtain the leaves 
dry during the rainy season. In consequence of this the prices advanced 
by about 50 per cent., and as it cannot be doubted that the price will 
remain at this level, the quotations of patchouli oil had to be raised 
further. For imported oil 50 marks per kilo is already asked. Our 
product stands in respect of quality above that oil. 
We hear from a reliable source that in Java patchouli -plantations 
have been laid out, from which possibly a crop may be expected 
before the end of the year. This new source of supply can, under 
the present conditions, only be welcomed. 
Peppermint Oil, American. This important article has passed 
through a very agitated period. At the time when our last Report 
was written, there was not the slightest suspicion of the events which 
subsequently occurred. The value at that time was about $ 2, — 
per lb., that is to say fairly normal, and we did not consider it out 
of the question that with some speculative enterprise it might go slightly 
higher. We had no idea that at that very time a gang of speculators 
had already commenced their operations, speculators who were daring 
enough to buy up 90 per cent, of the existing stocks in order to carry 
through a corner such as for this article had never been seen before. 
Within a few wxeks the prices were driven up to $ 5, — per lb., and 
were maintained at that level for several months. 
In view of the results of the harvest and the increased cost of 
production, nobody would have been surprised to see an advance up 
to $ 3,' — , but this bewildering state of affairs bore from the first the 
