142 
Many years ago a trap for insects was used at Gale- • 
(louia estate. It consisted of trays or shallow basins con- 
taining molasses above which stood a lamp. On examining 
the contents of the trays I observed that some were quite 
full of Brachytmpes which flying to the light had fallen 
into the molasses and were caught. A sheet of glass put 
erect across a pan of this kind adds to the catch of insects 
as they strike the glass and fall into the Molasses. This 
plan might be used effectively as an adjunct to searching 
for the holes, and is easier and not dangerous as the Carbon 
bisulphide certainly is. 
Ed. 
REPORT ON A SAMPLE OF CITRONELLA OIL. 
It is not often that analysis of agricultural products 
are published in the Agricultural Bulletin unless these have 
been carried out at home and perhaps published previously 
in other journals. I thought the following might therefore 
be of interest to planters and others who were interested in 
growing catchcrops among rubber, etc. and so encouraging 
another if small agricultural industry. 
COMPOSITION or CITEONELLA OIL. 
The most important odoriferous constituent of Citro- 
nella oil is an aldehyde known as Citronellal. The second 
important constituent is an alcohol known as Geraniol. It 
is to these two constituents that the oil ows its value. 
The proportions of these constituents vary somewhat 
in different , samples and the difference between Ceylon 
oils and Java oils is considerable, the former containing 
about 60 per cent of geraniol and citronellal, and the latter 
up to 90 per cent of these constituents. 
The oil from the Federated Malay States resembles 
the Java oil of commerce which is superior to the Ceylon 
oil. 
COMPOSITION OF SAMPLE. 
The sample examined in the laboratory yielded the 
following results, shewing ifs similarity to the Java oil 
of commerce. 
The oil was of a pale yellow colour and possesses the 
fragrant odour characteristic of this oil. 
It was clear and free from water and had been careful- 
ly prepared. 
