Commercial notes and scientific information. 39 



single instance of adulteration lately, and we believe that well-reputed exporters, who 

 have a long experience of the article, always take the necessary care when buying. 



Owing to the regularity of our purchases we are always in a position to supply 

 at a moment's notice oil of the finest quality, tested by ourselves, either from our 

 own warehouse or from the various European ports. 



Caraway Oil. During the last six months the course of the caraway market has 

 undergone a change which no one had expected and which has been a severe dis- 

 appointment to many speculators. It will be remembered that the total result of the 

 1912 crop was barely 25000 bales: the smallest yield on record. But those who con- 

 cluded therefrom that prices would rise have made an enormous mistake, for whereas 

 after the exceptionally heavy crop of 1911 (224419 bales) the prices advanced from 

 about 1 1 Fl. to 20 Fl., after the garnering of last year's scanty outturn they gradually 

 fell to about 14.50 Fl. The reason of this was that in 1911 consumers generally had 

 overbought, and that at times certain manufacturers, while laying in their supplies, 

 caused a senseless boom in the quotations which, in view of the ample crop, 

 must in the end lead to a reaction. Even at the present time there are in existence 

 stocks of caraway oil from the 1911 season which stand in at high rates, and if the 

 prices have not receded to the extent which might have been expected, this is no 

 doubt due to the general endeavour of the principal foreign manufacturers to rid 

 themselves of their holdings, if possible, without loss. Moreover, it is said that the 

 market is practically cleared of caraway seed with a satisfactory oil-content, and it 

 does not pay to work up parcels which are deficient in oil. So far no official reports 

 on the condition of the caraway fields in the various producing districts are available, 

 but we hear from our correspondents that the young plants have come well through 

 the winter and that therefore the prospects are just now very favourable. The price 

 of new seed has consequently for the time being fallen as low as 14 Fl. 



Cardamom Oil. It need hardly be mentioned that the abnormal prices of all 

 varieties of cardamoms have been the reverse of instrumental in imparting animation 

 to the cardamom oil business, for naturally the consumers hesitate very seriously 

 before paying 220 oJt per kilo for an article which formerly cost about 100 c4l per kilo. 

 Our correspondents are of opinion that there is no prospect of any improvement in 

 the future, for the plantations are dwindling more and more, the profitable rubber- 

 industry being everywhere preferred to the cultivation of cardamoms. In the year 1912 

 the exports of Ceylon cardamoms of all descriptions amounted to 476011 lbs., as 

 compared with 564819 lbs. in the previous year. These figures are evidence of a 

 serious falling-off in the production. The export statistics for the years 1901 to 1911 

 are given on p. 33 of our Re/port of October 1912. From these it appears that the 

 production of cardamoms in Ceylon has fallen by about 50 p. c. within the last decade. 



Cascarilla Oil. Opportunities of finding raw material for distilling purposes only 

 occur rarely. Most of the cascarilla bark is now sent direct from Honduras to the 

 United States, and this fact makes it rather difficult to secure supplies here. The 

 price of oil is not likely to fall below its present level. 



Cassia Oil. The market-prices of 80 to 85 p. c. cassia oil have fluctuated since 

 the middle of September of last year as shown below: — 



