Edible Products. 



[June 1907 



THE ARROWROOT INDUSTRY. 



According to an article in the Brisbane " Daily Mail," on the prospects of 

 selling Queensland arrowoot in London, Mr. Paine, the secretary in England reports 

 that from enquiries made among the trade here there is little doubt that the starch of 

 Cana edulis, or Tous-le-mois, could not be sold as arrowroot (which is a Maranta) as a 

 certain amount of prejudice exists against the Queensland article. Its use, however, 

 in the cocoa manufacturing trade is impossible, owing to its lack of strength. At 

 any rate, whilst we have known the leading buyers of St. Vincent arrow-root refuse 

 Tous-le-mois, we have never heard of it being used by them, says the editor of " Tro- 

 pical Life," (January). It is hoped, however, that by regular shipments of the Queens- 

 land kind it will become known, and any prejudice removed, although it cannot be ex- 

 pected to realise such a high price as the older-established arrowoots. A parcel of 100 

 bags Queensland arrowroot sold on this side are stated to have given satisfaction to 

 the buyers, but how the shippers and growers fared is not stated. It was considered, 

 however, that if the lid. per lb., landed in London, paid the shippers, orders could 

 be obtained on this side at that price. At present, as quoted below, " good manu- 

 facturing " St, Vincent is valued at 2$d. per lb., but then it is claimed that the 

 Queensland product, not being packed in barrels, the cost of putting up would not 

 be so great. On 2 cwt. of arrowroot, judging from memory, the difference between 

 coopered American flour barrels in St. Vincent (which is what they use) and a 2 cwt. 

 sack would work out at very little. It is asked, if the Queensland article could be 

 produced on the same basis as the Javanese produce tapioca flour, whether the 

 arrowroot could be sold in the United Kingdom in quantities of 2,000 to 3,000 tons 

 per annum, say at £12 a ton, or rather below l|d, per lb. ; but in answer to this, as 

 the demand even for St. Vincent arrowroot is now at a standstill, the Queensland 

 planters must first ascertain what Tous-le-mois can be regularly used for, if it costs 

 more than sago flour at 8s. to 9s. per cwt., for even at that price the market is pretty 

 well stocked, or could receive much larger quantities were they needed. 



With St. Vincent arrowroot this year has been a stranare one. Although, as 

 the following figures show, the stock of this article in London has fallen to only 

 3,414 barrels, the price for " good manufacturing " remains at 2fd., that too, only 

 as a valuation, except for small lots. This is due to the two really important buyers 

 refusing to recognise such a price. One firm it is thought might go on buying at 2£d. 

 but this has still to be proved in the event of any substantial quantity coming to 

 hand, but the second manufacturer seems averse to discuss any contract over two- 

 pence, which sellers in their present mood maintain is an altogether impossible 

 price in view of the restricted planting and out-put of arrowroot at the producing 

 centre. Under such circumstances the market await the results of 1907 production 

 and sales with considerable curiosity. 



Meanwhile, the twelve months' movements of this article in the Port of 

 London during the past six years (barrels only) works out as follows: — 



Jan. -Dec. 

 Imported 

 Delivered 



1906. 



14,772 

 17,080 



3,414 



1905. 



12,685 

 16,433 



5,722 



1904. 



15,294 

 18,460 



9,470 



15,064 

 14,682 



12,633 



1903. 



1902. 



19,075 

 14,570 



12,224 



1901. 



20,410 

 20,863 



7,747 



As only the smaller buyers nowadays keep their purchases at the docks, the 

 above stocks give no idea of the total quantity that must be consumed before there 

 is an urgent need for the large buyers to come on the market again. 



