k — 91 — 



attitude before the proper time in order to secure ready cash. Naturally 

 also, climatic disturbances such as have occurred more than once in the 

 past may upset all calculations. The probable reduction in values in 

 January, if it should occur, will at first find only partial expression in the 

 European market, because the cheap kinds cannot arrive here until the end 

 of February or the beginning of March. 



The estimate of the crop, which we present under reserve, is as 

 follows: — 



1st cutting Bingo Bitchiu (July/August) .... about 30000 kin 



2"d n n n (Sept/Oct.) „ 100000 „ 



3 rd „ „ „ (November) „ 100000 „ 



Yamagata (October) „ 15000 „ 



Hokkaido (January). . . . . . 200 to 250000 „ 



Total 445000 kin 

 to 495000 „ 



These figures show an increase in 1912 over 1911 of from 30 to 40 p. c, 

 indicating a very prolific crop. 



Peppermint Oil, Saxon. The production this season has again been 

 very small , owing to the climatic conditions having been throughout 

 unfavourable to the development of the plants. The greater portion of 

 our new distillate is already sold. 



From investigations by F. Pilz 1 ) it would appear that the peppermint 

 plant requires a considerable supply of potash, but is less exacting in 

 the matter of phosphoric acid. The leaves are richer in lime, phosphoric 

 acid, and nitrogen than are the stalks, but both leaves and stalks contain 

 almost the same proportions of soda and potash. 



Petitgrain Oil, Paraguay. It is true that the political disturbances 

 in Paraguay are not yet over and that prospects of a suppression of the 

 revolution seem to be slight, but owing to the admirable energy displayed 

 by our purveyors we have succedded in securing a few small parcels, for 

 which the consumers on this side were most anxiously waiting. It is not 

 surprising that the price has risen to about 48 marks per kilo. Recently 

 offers of oil for future delivery have come to hand from various quarters, 

 \ which seems to indicate that in spite of the uncertain political conditions 

 arrangements have been made to start the manufacture of the oil once 

 more, at any rate in some quarters. For the present it will certainly be 

 necessary to be prepared for high prices, and until the condition of 

 Paraguay has improved a resumption of supplies on the old scale is not 

 to be looked for. 



x ) Zeitschr. /. landw. Versuchswesen in Osterreich 15 (1912), 575. Quoted from Chem. 

 Zentralbl. 1912, II. 743. 



