*2 — 



and that from there any initiative for an upward movement can hardly 

 be expected, one asks in vain for logical reasons for the firm tone 

 of the Japanese, and the response with which it has recently met in 

 the European market. The quotations of the oil have not fluctuated 

 to any extent since our last Report; they moved between 6/- and 6/3. 

 The shipments of Japanese peppermint oil during the last five 

 years were: — 



in 1902 59240 kin value 164847 yen 



1903 77024 9 i „ 277617 „ 



1904 174 769 » » 558949 » 

 i9°5 I73 90 6 ,3 3, 49 I 59 I n 

 1906 1 14 706 ,, ,, (still unknown). 



The exports of peppermint oil and menthol from Japan in the 

 year 1906 were as follows: — 



Peppermint oil Menthol 



January 240 cases 154 cases 



February 233 „ 114 „ 



March 121 „ 41 h 



April ....... 286 „ 200 „ 



May 196 „ no „ 



June ....... 107 „ 94 „ 



July • . • 57 3, 35 » 



August 127 „ 122 „ 



September ...... 100 „ 75 „ 



October 106 „ 89 „ 



November 107 „ 278 „ 



December 156 „ 184 „ 



1836 cases 1496 cases 

 together 3332 cases, 



further 486 „ menthol and oil, not specified, 

 3818 cases === 103086 kilos 



against 194750 „* in 1905. 



Peppermint Oil, Russian. A rectified Russian peppermint 

 oil has been examined in detail by J. Schindelmeiser 1 ). The oil 

 originated from the Tambow Government where peppermint is now 

 cultivated, and had the following properties: di 9 o 0,908; «d — 19°48'; 

 4,8 °/ menthyl ester, calculated as menthyl acetate; 5i,2 2°/ free 

 menthol; i6,36°/ menthone; soluble in 4 parts 70 per cent, alcohol. 

 In a freezing mixture the oil only solidified after a prolonged time. 

 Schindelmeiser states that a portion of the first runnings of Russian 

 peppermint oil is removed during the rectification so as to improve 



*) Apotheker Ztg. 21 (1906), 927. 



