— i6 — 
direct. Of the latter we have recently received important consignments, 
which enable us to offer an exquisitly fine, rectified, water-white oil 
at a very moderate price. The present quotation is certainly worthy 
of notice, for, according to reports from Java, at the present low 
values the manufacture is only carried on on a small scale, and it is 
expected that this diminished production will very soon find expression 
in the quotations. 
Caraway Oil. The prices of Dutch caraway-seed have under- 
gone but unimportant fluctuations in the course of the last six months. 
Several attempts made to drive up the values have been unsuccessful, 
and it would appear that the stocks are still too large to carry through, 
in the face of the new harvest, an increase in the quotations with 
any lasting result. 
According to reports which have come to hand, the quantity sown 
this year would be approximately the same as that of 1902; for this 
reason, an upward movement would only be justified if the result of 
the harvest were injuriously affected by unfavourable weather-conditions. 
From Sweden and Norway a few isolated small parcels were 
offered at disproportionately high prices. East Prussia and Finland 
supplied only insignificant quantities; on the other hand, several truck- 
loads of German caraway-seed were placed on the market, and were 
rapidly taken up by the consumers. 
The prices of carvol, caraway oil, and carvene are at present well 
worthy of consideration. 
Cassia Oil. The fluctuations of the last six months moved 
between the narrow limits of i d. to 2 d. per lb., according to the 
exchange of silver. Latterly, the high-grade oil containing 80 to 85 
per cent, aldehyde, which is the one most in demand, has been 
somewhat more plentiful. The qualities which have lately come under 
our notice have not called for any remark, and it may therefore be 
assumed that the adulterators have given up their nefarious trade. 
But all the same, it will be well, in view of the Chinese character, 
to continue checking the quality by means of the determination of 
aldehyde. 
Business in cassia oil has been remarkably slow. This is also 
confirmed by the figures of the Hongkong export. These figures, 
which comprise oils of cassia and of star -anise, were as follows: — 
in the year 1902 only 3635 cases 
against „ „ „ 1901 6423 
„ „ „ 1900 4261 . „ 
1899 3374 
„ „ „ 1898 4461 „ 
