— 99 — 



do their very utmost to exploit the position and to obtain higher 

 rates for their products. 



For the map of the Japanese peppermint districts which will be 

 found in this Report (facing back cover) we are indebted to the courtesy 

 of Messrs. M. Raspe & Co., of Kobe. In comparing this map with 

 the one published in our Report for April 1897, it is to be considered 

 that in the present map the coloured districts show the actual areas 

 under cultivation, whereas in that of 1897 the entire provinces where 

 peppermint oil was grown were coloured, even although only a small 

 part of them might be under peppermint cultivation. The letters 

 printed in the various districts of the present map refer to the following 

 estimate of the 1909 crop: — 



A (Yamato) 100 kin 



B (Bingo-Bitchiu and Bizen) . . 8 500 „ 



C (Sanuki) 200 „ 



E (Ishikari, Teshio and Tokachi) !,„ ,, ., . f . . 20000 „ 



H (Kitami) jl ° ai °;| f 80000 „ 



N (Shinano) 300 „ 



Y (Uzen) 500 „ 



109 600 kin 



equalling in round figures 65 900 kg. 



A British Consular Report from Northern Formosa 1 ) indicates that 

 the growing of peppermint has recently been taken up successfully in 

 Formosa at Bokuseki-kaku in the district of Tuito, near the east coast 

 of the island. In the first year (1908) the crop was cut 3 times, the 

 first cutting yielding 990, the second 3200, and the third 2310 lbs., 

 together 6500 lbs. of herb. This, is is true, is only equal to an oil- 

 output of about 105 lbs., but in any case it may be taken for granted 

 that in future a keener interest will be shown for this cultivation, which 

 according to the statements of the Consul is said to yield a profit 

 of '£ 1 1 to j£ 1 2 per acre. 



Peppermint Oil, Saxon. Unfavourable weather has unfortunat- 

 ely greatly injured our peppermint cultivations, so that a satisfactory re- 

 sult is again out of the question. The second cutting, which is just 

 about to begin, promises better results than the first, but is hardly 

 likely to make good the loss already existing. In any case no 

 reduction is to be expected in our prices during the coming season, 

 and our supplies will soon be reduced — in fact, an advance in our 

 prices would actually be justified. 



1 ) Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4240, June 1909. 



