— 6o — 
Total Ester- Free 
cl^5o ^D16o ^^D16o menthol menthol menthol 
1. 0,916 — 2^34' 1468 55,5 0/^ 9,720/^ 45,78Vo 
11. 0,9171 — io°4i' 1,467 58,6 „ 7,10 „ 51,5 „ 
III. 0,9256 — 7° 4' 45,0 „ 6,01 „ 38,99,, 
IV. 0,9122 — i6°2i' 1,46733 (20°) 52,5 „ 7,89,, 44,61,, 
V. 0,916 — 13^17' 1,46783 (20°) 53,07 „ 9,66,, 43>4i 
VI. 0,9157 —12^34' 1,46783 (20°) 50,95 „ 9,87,, 41,08,, 
The oils IV to VI examined by us did not form a completely clear 
solution with 70 per cent, alcohol, and the solutions in 80 per cent, alcohol 
which M^ere at first clear, became cloudy when more solvent was added. 
We wish to avail ourselves of this opportunity to correct a slight 
error which has crept in the previous article. It is mentioned there, 
that the menthone- content of the sample amounted to 23 per cent.; 
in reality it only amounts to 8,16 per cent., and this result agrees 
very well with a further examination which was subsequently made 
with another sample. The mistake was, that the difference in the 
saponification numbers of the acetylised oil before and after the con- 
version of menthone into menthol, was given as the menthone-content. 
Peppermint Oil, Japanese, According to information from 
our friends in Japan, dating from the end of October last year, the 
result of the last harvest is as follows :. — 
Bingo Bitchin i^^ crop 4000 catties. 
2"^ „ 30000 „ 
„ 26000 „ 
Yonezawa i^^ „ 25000 „ 
2"^ „ 15000 
Total 100000 catties 
or about 60000 kilos, 
against 80000 catties, or about 50000 kilos, in 1901. It was there- 
fore fairly normal, and sufficient for the demand. 
If, in spite of this, the value of the article is exceptionally high, 
the fault lies solely and exclusively with America, for the purchases 
on American account were made in such haste, that the Japanese soon 
discovered what the object was of these transactions. 
Our cheapest purchase was in July last year at 3/3; since then 
the rise occurred as follows : — 
Cheapest quotation in July 1902, about 3/3 per lb. 
Average „ „ August „ „ 4/4 
„ „ September, 
„ „ October 
„ „ November, 
„ „ December 
„ January 1903, „ 13/- 
5/- 
5/- 
7/6 
