FOREIGN TRADE IN FARM AND FOREST PRODUCTS. 39 



years. The countries of this group were Belgium, Germany, the 

 Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The yearly average of flax- 

 seed sent abroad during 1895-1904 was about 2 million bushels. Dur- 

 ing the five years 1910-1914 the yearly average decreased to 78,586 

 bushels. 



The flaxseed imported in 1910 amounted to 5 million bushels, 10 

 million bushels in 1911, 7 million bushels in 1912, 5 million bushels 

 in 1913, and nearly 9 million bushels in 1914. During 1910-11 one- 

 half of this product came from Argentina ; but Canada supplied two- 

 thirds during 1912-13 and practically all in 1914. During the five 

 years 1910-1914 the average import price of flaxseed was $1.70 per 

 bushel. 



Sugar-beet seed.— Sugar-beet seed shown in our imports in 1910 

 amounted to 10 million pounds, 11 million pounds each for 1911 and 

 1912, 15 million pounds in 1913, and 10 million pounds in 1914. Ap- 

 proximately 90 per cent of this product came from Germany. The 

 import value of this seed was $068,000 in 1910, $1,103,000 in 1912, and 

 $800,000 in 1914. 



Timothy. — The timothy seed sold to foreign countries during the 

 last 25 years had a yearly average of about 13 million pounds, with 

 very slight fluctuations from year to year. European and North 

 American countries took more than 95 per cent, each taking about 

 the same amount. The principal customers in Europe were Ger- 

 many and the United Kingdom, Avhile Canada was the best market 

 on the western continent. 



SPICES. 



The exports of spices from the United States in 1884 were valued 

 at $41,191, which increased to $84,427 in 1914. About one-third 

 of this product during the five years 1910-1914 went to Canada, 

 Mexico, and the Philippine Islands. 



The imports of all kinds of spices were valued at $780,650 in 1851 

 and $5,595,509 in 1914. These came chiefly from British and Dutch 

 East Indies, but other sources of importance were the Netherlands, 

 the United Kingdom, and the British West Indies. 



The imports of cassia and cassia vera in 1912 were 6,795,943 

 pounds; in 1913, 6,853,915 pounds; in 1914, 6,771,901 pounds. The 

 value of this product was $514,758 in 1912, $535,974 in 1913, and 

 $404,853 in 1914. About one-half came from China and the re- 

 mainder came chiefly from three countries— Hongkong, the Dutch 

 East Indies, and the Netherlands. 



The ginger root, not preserved, imported in 1912, amounted to 

 5,979,314 pounds, 7,756,090 pounds in 1913, and 3,771,086 pounds in 

 1914. The value was $368,175 in 1912, $399,270 in 1913, and $171,250 



