April  i,  1896.J  THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
705 
other  than  their  specific  gravity  and  solubility  in 
per  cent  alcohol  indicate  admixture  with  another  adul- 
terant, possibly  as  observed  on  one  occasion  by  Messrs. 
Schimmel  & Co.,  one  of  the  so-called  wood  oils  derived 
from  a species  of  Bipterocarpus,  although  probably  not 
those  from  which  the  gurjun  oil  of  commerce  is  derived 
(Dipterocarjnis  turbinatus  and  other  species).  Three  of  the 
oils  may  be  taken  as  types  of  this  form  of  adulteration 
.and  their  characters  are  briefly  as  under  : 
Specific  Gravity— The  sp.  gr.  at  Indeg  C are  some- 
what high,  being  in  the  case  of  No.  1,  -9027  and  No.  2, 
■9034  and  No.  3,  ‘9066.  The  oil  which  I have  distilled 
from  gur.iun  balsam  has  a sp.  gr.  of  '916  at  15degC, 
whilst  pure  citronella  oil  distilled  from  fresh  grass,  rarely 
exceeds  ’900. 
Solubility  i.n  so  per  Cent  Alcohol.  - These  three 
samples  are  readily  soluble  in  alcoh'  1 of  80  per  cent 
strength,  in  a proportion  of  one  part  in  three,  but  on 
further  dilution  a turbidity  occures,  and  after  about 
eight  to  twelve  hours  a dark-brown  deposit  results. 
Optica  Rotation— The  optical  rotation  of  the  three 
oils  is  more  l<evo-rotatory  than  is  usually  found  in  pure 
citronella  oil,  being  between --Udeg  and —13deg  in  a tube 
of  100  m.m. 
Fractionation — Differences  are  observable  when  frac- 
tionation of  the  oil  is  carried  out.  The  following  columns 
show  a comparison  of  the  proportions  obtained  at  v,arious 
temperatures  from  a sample  of  pure  oil  and  these  three 
actionation 
Pure 
No.  1 
No.  2 
No.  3 
deg.  C 
Below  200 
6 per  cent 
6 
9 
8 
200--205 
7 do 
7 
4 
205-215 
12  do 
13 
8 
12 
215-225 
30  do 
17 
18 
16 
2-’5-240 
38 
43 
32 
Above  240 
29  do 
24 
15 
28 
It  will  be  noted  that  the  proportion  in  the  impure  oils 
boiling  from  22odeg  to  240deg  C is  greater  in  the  case  of 
Nos.  1,  2 and  3 than  in  the  case  of  the  pure  oil.  This 
is  rendered  more  suspicious  by  the  fact  that  the  oils  con- 
tain less  geraniol  (B.P.  231-232deg  C ) 
Percentage  of  Geraniol— Experiments  have  been 
made  with  a view  to  determine  the  amounts  of  geraniol 
present  in  the  pure  and  adulterated  oils.  The  amount 
present,  as  shown  by  the  acetylation  process  is,  in  the 
case  of  the  pure  oil,  64  per  cent,  and  in  all  the  pure 
oils  examined  falls  between  60  and  64  per  cent ; in  the 
case  of  No,  1 it  falls  as  low  as  52  per  cent.  No.  2 to 
50'4  per  cent,  and  No.  3 to  51  per  cent.  An  important 
difference  is  shown  in  the  saponiflcations  figures  of  the 
pure  and  adulterated  oils,  the  former  being  from  35  to 
40,  whilst  the  latter  vary  from  48  to  54.  This  difference 
is  probably  due  to  the  presence  of  resin  acids  in  the 
adulterant  rather  than  a greater  proportion  of  esters. 
It  is  necessary,  therefore,  to  take  into  consideration 
not  only  the  specific  gravity  and  behaviour  of  the  oils  in 
alcohol  of  80  per  cent  strength  ; but  also  to  observe  the 
optical  rotation,  which  should  not  exceed  — 8deg  in  a 
lOOin.  tube,  and  in  addition  the  proportion  boiling  from 
225deg  C to  240deg  C in  comparison  with  its  geraniol 
percentage  as  well  as  the  saponification  figure  of  the 
•il. 
It  is  Worth  noting  that  neither  the  oil  nor  the  por- 
tion of  it  boiling  above  225deg  C gives  Fluckiger’s  re- 
action for  gurjun  oil,  which  consists  m the  addition  of  a 
drop  of  a cooled  mixture  of  equal  parts  of  sulphuric  and 
nitric  acids  to  a solution  of  the  oil  in  twenty  times  its 
volume  of  carbon  bisulphide,  when  a violet  colour  is  pro- 
duced. This  colour  is  afforded  with  that  usually  im- 
ported into  this  country.  The  author  of  that  test  refers 
to  the  great  number  of  wood  oils  wliich  are  obtained 
from  various  parts  of  Eastern  Asia,  and  points  out  that 
should  .a  wood  oil  not  give  this  reaction  it  is  probably 
derived  from  a differtnt  species  of  Dipterocarpus  than 
those  he  has  examined.  This  also  confirmed  by  Hirschsohn’s 
observations  on  the  same  subject. — Chemist  and  Di  vgtjist, 
March  7. 
THE  PURCHASES  OE  THE  RECENT  TEA 
BUYERS. 
Messrs.  Isgaieskeff  and  Jaegar,  representatires 
of  Messrs.  Popolf,  the  well-known  firm  of  tea 
merchants  on  tlie  occasion  of  their  recent  visit 
to  Colombo  purchased  somewhere  about  60,<X)0 
lb,  of  tea.  This  has  been  shipped  to  Russia  by 
Messrs.  Schultze,  and  will  be  distributed  as 
pure  Ceylon  tea,  unblended  with  Chinas.  Mr. 
Schultze  has  informed  a contemporary  that 
the  demand  for  Ceylon  tea  in  Russia  is  steadily 
increasing,  and  other  lirm.s  besides  PopoH'  Bros, 
are  evincing  an  interest  in  the  article.  It  may, 
therefore,  be  expected  he  opines,  that  in  a short 
time  we  shall  see  more  ItiLssian  buyers  here. 
When  in  Colombo  they  purchased  a Sirocco  from 
Messrs.  Davidson  & Co.,  and  it  will  be  sent  to 
Hankow  shortly.  If  found  successful,  as  itpro- 
bably  will  be,  an  order  for  further  machinery, 
Mr.  Schultze  believes,  will  be  certain. 
THE  CEYLON  HILLS  TEA  ESTATES 
COMPANY,  LTD. 
This  Company  has  acquired  tlie  Agra  Oya  group 
which  includes  Glenalvah  situate  in  Lower  Dik- 
oya.  It  comprises  about  450  acres,  and  has  been 
purcliased  for  £10,<X)0  sterling. 
DIMBULLA  VALLEY  CEYLON  TEA  COM 
PANY  LIMITED. 
Mr.  Jaines  Sinclair  has  left  for  Europe 
having  recDived  special  instructions  to  return  to 
London  in  connection  with  the  actions  it  is 
intended  to  institute  to  enforce  specific  perfor- 
mance ot  the  contracts  to  sell.  In  connection 
with  this  matter  we  also  hear  that  Mr.  P.  M. 
Anstruther  leaves  for  England  immediately. 
DRUG  REPORT. 
(From  the  Chemist  and  Druggist.) 
42  Cannon  Street,  E.C.,  March  6. 
Essential  Oils — Citronella  oil  is  firm  on  the  spot : 
possibly  Is  ltd  per  lb  might  buy  oil  of  good  quality, 
standing  the  usual  test,  but  in  several  quarters  2s  is 
asked.  For  shipment  the  quotation  is  Is  lOd  per  lb,  c i f 
February  to  June.  Lemongrass  oil  is  quiet,  at  ‘2id 
per  oz.  -11, 
Seeds  (various)— Thirty  bags  wormy  Areca  nuts  sold 
Without  reserve  at  8s  6d  per  cwt.  The  25  pack.ages  fair 
Madras  annatto  seeds  were  bought  in  at  3dper  lb 
Vanilla  was  in  fair  supply,  but  the  demand  has'slack- 
ened  off,  and  only  a small  part  sold,  but  good  qualities 
brought  steady  prices  : fine  7 inch  to  8 inch,  25s  to 
ps  : 4 inch  to  7i  inch  20s  to  26s  6d ; fair  small  choco- 
late Ids  to  18s,  and  common  kinds  from  7s  6d  down  to 
63  per  lb. 
Cocoa-butter— Five  hundred  2-cwt  cases  of  Cadbury’s 
brand  sold  at  auction  this  week  at  from  12Jd  up  to  13id 
per  lb,  the  opening  price  being  lower,  with  a steady  market 
at  the  close.  .At  auction  in  Amsterdam  70  tons  of  Van 
Houten’s  sold  at  an  average  of  68 '19c  per  half-kilo,  the 
tone  being  steady. 
C(^A-LE.ATEs  of  good  quality  are  scarce  and  inquired 
for  Green  Iruxillo  offer  at  Is  c i f terms.  On  our  market 
good  qualities  are  very  scarce,  and  for  fine  bright  Truxillo 
Is  Id  to  Is  2d  per  lb  would  be  the  price.  At  auction 
10  bales  very  coinruon  dark  brown  damaged  leaves  were 
bought  in  at].sperlb. 
CUBEBS-Five  bags  fair  small  sifted  berries  from  Singa- 
pore sold  today  at  32s  6d  per  cwt. 
GUFPEE  PLANTING  IN  THE  LANGAT 
DISTRICT. 
P.ftgarding  planting  in  Ulu  Langat,  Selangor, 
Mr.  Skeat  writes  in  his  report 
, . outlimk  as  regards  the  development  of  the 
district  by  European  planters  is,  on  the  other  hand, 
most  encouraging;  and  it  is  greatly  to  be  hoped  that 
the  present  year  will  see  coffee  planting  started  in 
earnest  on  a large  scale.  Four  applications  for  320 
acres  each  were  received  from  Messrs.  P B Hicks 
E.  B.  Skinner  A.  A.  Allen,  and  E.  J.  All^  ; and 
two  more  applications,  also  for  320  acres  eaeh,  from 
Mes^s.  G.  h.  S.  and  M.  Sydney  Parry,  whilst  a 
previous  application  from  Messrs.  Kindersley  for  320 
acres  on  the  Rekoh  Hoad  has  been  granted.  The 
land  embraced  by  the  first  six  applications  is  a tract 
upon  the  right  geographical  bank  of  the  Langat 
River,  m the  neighbourhood  of  Merbau  Tumbang 
and  Bukit  Xempiurocg.  It  fijms  th«  uppej  end  W 
