COMMERCIAL NOTES AND SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION. 79 
Production of peppermint oil Production of peppermint oil 
and menthol Menthol-Exports and menthol Menthol-Exports 
1899 = Yen 195 424 Yen 1906 2 305 076 Yen 51d 21 Oem 
~ 1900 — ‘3 LEZ OM 3055 1907 W222 es, B35 flrs so) 
1901 = ms 437051, 1908 633998 203937 oe, 
1902 772104 ,, 463719 _,, 1909 1 340 480 __se,, 490525 ,, 
1903 1119403 _,, 804401 ,, 1910 L.6F9' Sole 4), 6048 857 ___—,, 
1904 2 308 269 __—, 1090542, 1911 2 870882 _,, 963:220 >) +5, 
1905 2183-231. ,, 797 624 i, 1912 oi 3 1,009 (29 sae 
A report from the same Consul, dated 26th November 19137), gives the following 
particulars: — 
The production of peppermint oil?) in Japan is subject to great fluctuations. This 
is partly a result of climatic conditions, the peppermint-plant being extraordinarily 
sensitive, and partly it is due to the fact that planting follows the prices. High prices 
are followed by an increase in the area under cultivation in the following year, and 
vice versa. As high prices ruled in the year 1911, both cultivation and preguewan in 
the year 1912 increased to an extraordinary extent. 
No statistical details of the 1912 crop are yet available, but the output is estimated 
at about double that of a normal one. 
In the past only three Japanese firms, namely Kobayashi, Suzuki, and Yazawa have 
been regarded as buyers-up in the market, but in the year 1912 a fourth firm made 
its appearance in this capacity, this being the English house of Samuel, Samuel & Co., 
who bought up about one-third of the entire Hokkaido-crop. In doing this the firm 
received the support of the Japanese local authorities, whose object it was to break 
the ring of the three old buying-firms. 
As a result of this competition the buying-up prices reached an exceptionally high 
level, notwithstanding the increased quantity offered. Towards the turn of the year 
1912 crude peppermint oil from the Southern districts realized from 9,50 to 10 yen 
per kin, and Hokkaido peppermint oil fetched 7,50 yen. Menthol crystals realized up 
to 18 and even 20 yen per kin; they sold in the London market at 42/- per Ib. 
These high prices had again the effect of greatly increasing the cultivation in 
Japan; the output of the 1913-crop being estimated at about 450000 kin of crude pepper- 
mint oil in Hokkaido, and 400000 kin in the Southern Districts, which together is from 
3 to 4 times as much as the figures given for the year 1911 (204000 kin). Added to 
this is the fact that the said firm of Samuel, Samuel & Co., having been unable to 
introduce its brand, up to then unknown in Europe, quickly enough, was left with a 
considerable part of its stock, and carried over considerable quantities of the 1912-crop 
into the present season, finding itself compelled to sell these at considerably 
reduced prices. 
As a result of this concatenation of circumstances, the peppermint-market suffered 
such a slump during the last few months, as is unusual even in this speculative article. 
At the present time (end of November) the following prices per kin are quoted for 
shipment in the first quarter of 1914; crude oil (Hokkaido) 3,20 yen; ditto (Okayama) 
4,20 yen; menthol crystals 6 yen and dementholised oil from 2,70 to 2,80 yen. These 
prices are only about one-third of those which were paid a year ago. 
1) Nachrichten f. Hand., Ind. u. Landw. 1914, No.1. — 2) The original report has “peppermint’’. As, 
generally speaking, this term is held to the plant, we have here altered the expression to “peppermint oil’’. 
