— 73 — 



way via Kobe; the share of this port increased from 11% of the 

 total exports in 1900 (25705 out of 223471 yen) to nearly 47% 

 in 1906 (422575 out of 888693 yen). The oil distilled on the 

 spot by a simple process enters the refining works in an impure con- 

 dition and is there separated into crystals and oil. The yield of 

 menthol fluctuates according to the different harvests; the first cut 

 (July to August) yields about 35 to 4O°/ , the September cut 40 

 to 5O°/ , the third (up to the end of October) 50 to 6o°/ crystals. 

 The rests consists of the so-called "pure oil", which still contains about 

 io°/ menthol. Two refineries are situated in Kobe, one of which 

 has been established with German money. The principal article in 

 Kobe is the brand of the Suzuki refining works. 



In the country itself neither menthol nor oil are much used, the 

 bulk being exported. The following table abstracted from, the Customs' 

 statistics gives particulars of the movement of the trade during the 

 last 5 years : — 









M 



enthol 



crystals. 













Of the total exports were shipped to: 





Of which export- 



















ed via Kobe 



Hong- 



The United 



Ger- 



Ame- 



Ma- 







kong 



Kingdom 



many 



rica 



nila 





Quantity 



Value 



Quantity 



Value 















kin 



yen 



kin 



yen 



kin 



kin 



kin 



kin 



kin 



1902 



54332 



463718 



591 



6154 



15 487 



IO524 



7 744 



I4861 



15 



J 903 



76851 



80440I 



29694 



296695 



21 123 



15533 



18718 



15 307 



6l 



1904 



I44 148 



IO90742 



42255 



337325 



21882 



33 686 



19400 



47 789 



8 



1905 i 



167067 



797624 



48789 



234718 



13476 



63 949 



24417 



30656 



3i 



1906 



95 549 



5I72I5 



37139 



205 I96 





(Not ye 



t known 



•) 





Peppermint oil. 



Of which export- 

 ed via Kobe 



Of the total exports were shipped to: 



Hong- 

 kong 



The United 

 Kingdom 



Ger- 

 many 



Ame- 

 rica 



Ma- 

 nila 



1902 

 1903 

 1904 

 1905 

 1906 



Quantity 



kin 



59 240 



77024 



174769 



173 906 



121 138 



Value 



yen 



164864 



277616 



558 949 

 491590 

 371478 



Quantity 

 kin 



9457 

 359i6 

 86893 

 87050 

 69969 



Value 

 yen 



40062 

 120 281 

 282516 

 249452 

 217386 



kin 

 22962 



24584 

 53382 

 43 640 



kin 

 I2832 

 15392 

 40 540 

 58370 



kin 

 I4874 

 24230 

 25816 

 37 868 



(Not yet known.) 



kin 



419O 



7125 



24490 



18536 



kin 

 15 



5 

 16 



15 



The decrease in the exports of the year 1906 is explained thus, 

 that the consumers had laid in abundant supplies at the time of the 

 good harvest in the previous year, and consequently did not buy so 

 much new oil. The yield of natural (unseparated) oil during the last 



