290 



DRUGS AND MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



CEYLON PRODUCTS IN LONDON IN 1905. 



Areca Nuts. 



Areca nuts were selling a,t the commencement of the year at 16s. per cwt. and 

 on January 19, 43 bags were offered at auction and 10 were sold at the price just 

 mentioned. On March 16, 46 bags were limited to 16s. and subsequently selling 

 privately thereat, but on April 13, no less than 160 bags were brought under the 

 hammer and meeting no demand only a small lot of 2 bags found buyers at 15s. 6d. 

 Owners, however, declined soon after to entertain this price for further business and 

 stuck to 16s. per cwt. well into the month of July, and a good demand then springing 

 up with hardening prices to follow, 38 bags were held on August 21 for 20s. Towards 

 the latter part of September the price was advanced to 25s. , owing to greatly reduced 

 supplies, and 21 bags offered at auction on the 28th of that month were firmly held 

 for 25s. A short while after 25s. to 27s. 6d. was asked, according to quality and at 

 the close of the year nothing can be bought under 27s. 6d. 



Cardamoms. 



Cardamoms were_again in large supply at the drug auction, during the year, 

 amounting to 6,768 cases, against 7,691 cases in 1904 and 3,669 were sold under the 

 hammer, as compared with 4,253 disposed of during the previous twelve months. 

 Those left unsold, however, found buyers almost always soon after each sale, and on 

 January 19, 551 cases were offered, but there was no demand, and it was very difficult 

 to induce buyers to make bids, with the result that only 182 cases were disposed of 

 the best Ceylon Mysore bringing Is. 7d. to 2s., the lowest 6|d. to lOd. and seeds from 

 lOd. to lO^d. per lb. The stock on January 31 was 2,153 cases, against 2,187 at the 

 same time last year, and at the next five auctions the offerings did not exceed 400 

 cases at any one of them. A generally good demand prevailed with rising values 

 and the best left off on March 30 at 2s. 3d. to 2s, 5d., the lowest at l\d. to 10^d. and 

 seeds at lOd. to lid. On April 13 and on May 11, 437 and 478 cases were offered res- 

 pectively, with 283 and 338 sold at firm to dearer rates, the best at Is. lOd. to 2s. 6d. 

 the lowest at 7£d. to ll£d. and seeds at lOd. to lHd., whilst fair Malabar obtained lOd. 

 also bold brown Mangalore Is. Id. and seeds of the latter Is. At the next auctions on 

 May 25, 329 cases were brought forward and 279 were disposed of. Qualities over 9d. 

 met a good demand at full prices to Id. and occasionally l$d. advance ; at 9d. and 

 below values were steady, whilst seeds opened unchanged but closed | to Id. dearer, 

 the best Ceylon Mysore realizing 2s. Id. to 2s. 10d., the lowest 7h to Hid., seeds lOd. 

 to Is., Malabar medium 10d., seeds lid. to Hid. and Tellicherry 8id. to Is. 3d. , according 

 to quality and seeds Is. To June and July, covering four auctions, the supplie 

 brought forward were smaller ; however, the slackness of demand usual in the sum- 

 mer months kept the values down to a small proportion, the prices for which fluc- 

 tuated a little, but, were on the whole, somewhat easier except for seeds. 



CARDAMOM STOCKS IN LONDON. 



On July 31d. stocks were 2,228 cases, against 3,234 the previous year and showing 

 a decrease of about 1,000 cases. On August 3, 17 and 31, values were about maintained ; 

 however, on September 14, when 401 cases were catalogued and 284 sold, good bold 

 kinds were Id. to 2d. dearer, other kinds and seeds slightly easier, including fair 

 to fine bold Ceylon Mysore at Is. <dd. to 2s. lid. lowest at 8d. to Is. Id. and 

 seeds at lOd. to lid. A fortnight later on September 28, the largest quantity 

 but oue offered during the year amounted to 463 cases, of which 148 were 

 disposed of (the smallest offerings of 30 cases were made on August 17, when 

 16 found buyers) some qualities being dearer and others steady, including seeds at 

 lOd. to lid. During the next two months and to the last auction of the year on 

 December 7, the total of supplies brought forward was moderate, which met a 

 varying demand at prices showing at one time a slight decline and at another firm 

 to dearer rates, the best from Is. 2d. to 2s- lid., the lowest 8d. to 9|d., and seeds lid. 

 to is., whilst long wild brought Is. 9d. to 2s. for good heavy. Stocks in London on 

 December 31, 1905, were 1,713 cases, against 2,411 at the same time in 1904. 



