66 — 
eliminated. By oxidising isomyristicin with potassium permanganate 
according to Semmler^), Thoms also obtained myristicin aldehyde 
(m. p. 131°) and myristicinic acid (m. p. 210°). With regard to the 
facts hitherto known about the products split off from myristicin, 
Thoms proposes for this body the following formula: 
CH2 — CH 
CH3O 
O 
I 
O — CH, 
Orris Oil. Our Italian buyers report as follows on the present 
state of the market of Florentine orris-roots: — 
According to our previous communications, the available quantity of Flo- 
rentine roots at the end of August 1903 amounted to .... 560 tons 
Added to this the last results of the harvest of 1903 about . . . 750 „ 
gives a total of 13 10 tons 
Shipments from the beginning of September 1903 to the end of 
February 1904 630 „ 
Leaves at present at disposal about ^ . 680 tons 
The yield of the harvest in 1903 shows therefore a deficiency, as compared 
with 1902, of about 250 tons. Moreover, the quality shows a great falling-off, 
as chiefly only medium qualities have been produced, in consequence of which 
picked orris-root can practically only be supplied by drawing on the old roots, 
and for this reason the latter fetches a higher price than the roots of the new 
crop. There can be no doubt that the decline both in quantity and in quality 
is due to the ruinous selling prices which do not nearly cover the cost of pro- 
duction, a state of affairs which leads to a general neglect of the cultivation. 
At the present time the yield from cereals is worth about five times that from 
orris-root to the peasant; the orris-root cultivation pays neither for interest nor 
wages, and a continued decline in the production must therefore be expected. 
As a matter of fact, the last new plantations are on a much more modest scale 
than previously. During the twelve months from September 1902 to August 
1903, the total shipments amounted to about 840 tons, that is to say, some- 
what less than the average annual export of 900 tons recorded by us; but the 
twelve months from September 1903 to August 1904, judging from the shipments 
made to this date, will probably again make up the difference. 
At the time of the harvest, from September to November, the following 
prices were paid: — 
35 to 37 marks per 100 kilos cif. Hamburg for assorted roots 
31 to 32 marks per 100 kilos cif. Hamburg for pickings. 
To-day, in consequence of the important purchases which have meanwhile 
been made, the market quotations are 38 and 33 marks. Will these prices be 
maintained, or will the article improve further? This is a question which many 
people put to themselves, but who can read the future? It will be readily 
understood that this will depend chiefly on the result of the next harvest, on 
which, however, an opinion cannot as yet be very well given. The decrease 
1) Berliner Berichte 24 (1891), 3818. 
