— 7i — 



For the reason already stated, these figures can only be given 

 with reserve as representing the actual result of the harvest. Of last 

 season, it is said that no less than 60000 lbs. (!) which were held 

 back in expectation of better prices, are still unsold in the hands of 

 producers. 



If the estimates for the three districts are taken together, we 

 obtain the following summary of the quantities available for the 

 new season : — 



New York ..... about 28000 lbs. 

 Michigan and Indiana . „ 205000 „ 



Total 233000 lbs. 



The tone is everywhere very weak, and as moreover no stimulation 

 may be looked for from the Japanese peppermint oil market, an 

 improvement in the prices in the near future cannot be reckoned upon. 



We would still add that the Essential Oil Department of the 

 American Society of Equity, to which we referred in our last October 

 Report, has ceased to exist; from this it would appear that this 

 movement has found little support from the side of the interested 

 parties. 



Peppermint Oil, English. Owing to the cold weather in the 

 months of April and May, the growth of the plants has been retarded 

 very considerably, and not until the end of August it was possible 

 to form an at least somewhat reliable opinion on the prospects of 

 the harvest. Unfortunately, the hopes built upon the influence of the 

 change in the weather in June have not been realised, for, although 

 the herb has generally thriven extremely well, the small yield of oil, 

 probably due to the large amount of moisture during the summer 

 months, is generally complained about. Moreover, a large number 

 of fields had to be cleared prematurely, as the plants had been 

 attacked by a fungus-disease which threatened to destroy them. The 

 general opinion is that this year's crop only amounts to about 2 /s of 

 last year's, and that consequently the total result must be character- 

 ised as semi-normal. Naturally the prices have experienced a pro- 

 portionate upward movement, and now fluctuate between 34/- and 

 36/- per lb., equal to a quotation of nearly 80 marks for rectified oil. 

 As we only have at our disposal a medium quantity of old stock, we 

 shall soon have to adjust our prices in complete harmony with the 

 upward movement. How the consumers will face this surprise must 

 be awaited, but no doubt the demand will then turn more towards the 

 American oil which can be had very advantageously this year. 



Peppermint Oil, Japanese. The information in our April 

 Report, which questioned the legitimacy of the Japanese expectations 

 of higher prices for their peppermint products, has been confirmed by 



