- 46 
Stocks of any importance exist nowhere. There can therefore be 
no doubt that the high prices will remain in force. 
We have repeatedly mentioned in our reports that the cultivation 
of andropogon grasses in the West Indian Islands appears to be 
extending more and more, as during the last few years we have 
frequently received from those countries samples of oils which were 
derived from this species of grass, and which were partly citronella 
oils, and partly oils of lemongrass. 
It is clear that this cultivation now also extends to the Continent; 
this appears to be confirmed by a larger sample from a species of 
grass called "Te limon", sent to us from Mexico. The oil obtained by 
us from this grass in a yield of 0,916 per cent, proved to be oil of 
lemongrass; in its properties it fairly closely resembles the West Indian 
lemongrass oils, it is only a Httle lighter and shows a somewhat greater 
solubility. It makes a fine clear solution in i volume 80 per cent, 
alcohol, although when more solvent is added, opalescence occurs 
very rapidly. Its behaviour is the same when go per cent, alcohol 
is used, whilst 98 per cent, alcohol gives in every case a clear solution. 
The remaining properties of the Mexican oil of lemongrass were: 
d^go = 0,8852; Qjy = +0°; aldehyde-content, about 70 per cent. 
We mentioned on page 23 of our Report of April 1903, that 
Dr. S t r u n k , the chemist of the Botanical Garden of Victoria, 
Cameroons, had obtained from a species of grass which is cultivated 
there under the name Andropogon citratus, an essential oil which, 
according to the results of his examinations made with the insufficient 
means at the disposal of the local laboratory, appeared to be citronella 
oil. Strunk was therefore of opinion that the plant from which he 
had distilled the oil was not Andropogon citratus, but A. iiardus. The 
same oil has now also been examined in the Pharmaceutical Institute 
of Berlin by C. Mannich^), when it was found to contain not citron- 
ellal, but on the contrary large quantities of citral, namely 70 per cent. 
The oil is therefore lemongrass oil, and the mother-plant Andropogon 
citratus. The specific gravity of the oil was 0,885. With alcohol it 
makes a somewhat cloudy solution. By means of sodium sulphite, 
according to Tiemann's method, 68,2 per cent, pure citral of the 
boiling point 101° to 103° at 9 mm was isolated, and further iden- 
tified by conversion into the semicarbazone melting at 164°. Citronellal 
and geraniol could not be detected in the oil with certainty. 
Parry 2) found that acetone is used as an adulterant of lemon- 
grass oil. Apart from its exceptionally low specific gravity (0,893) 
.^) Berichte der d. pharm. Ges. 13 (1903), 86. 
^) The Chemist and Druggist 62 (1903), 768. 
