I 
452  THE  TRADE  IN  LIQUORICE. 
in  great  abundance ;  its  quality  is  considered  very  good,  and 
has  induced  many  to  undertake  its  manufacture.  But  the  num- 
ber is  now  much  reduced,  owing  to  the  cultivation  of  the  land, 
which  makes  the  root  scarce.  One  manufacturer  at  Patras,  Mr. 
George  Congos,  used  to  prepare  yearly  more  than  40,000  oques 
of  liquorice-juice.  The  Greek  root  is  said  to  be  sweeter  than 
that  found  in  Sicily  and  Spain,  hence  the  juice  contains  a  greater 
quantity  of  saccharine  matter  than  that  made  in  Calabria. 
The  following  figures  from  the  Official  Trade  Returns,  show 
the  sources  of  supply  in  1860.  The  duty,  which  had  been  18s. 
per.  cwt.  on  Paste  from  British  Possessions,  and  £1  on  foreign 
make,  from  1846,  and  £1  per  cwt.  on  all  kinds  of  juice  from 
August  26,  1853,  was  abolished  on  March  7th,  1860  :— 
Liquorice  Paste. 
Quantity.  Computed. 
Cwt.  Value. 
Prance  757  £2479 
Spain  981  3372 
Naples  and  Sicily. .  .5707  19,780 
Turkey  16,790  33,578 
Other  parts  829  2785 
25,064  61,994. 
Liquorice  Juice. 
Quantity.  Computed: 
Cwt.  Value. 
France  772  £2704 
Spain  101  383 
Sardinia  34  202 
Tuscany  97  572 
Two  Sicilies  5663  32,807 
Other  parts  186  792 
6853  37,460 
In  France  there  is  an  extensive  use  of  liquorice-water,  in  the 
promenades  and  public  places,  under  the  name  of  "  Coco." 
Under  the  name  of  "Erqooss"  it  is  also  sold  extensively  as  a 
drink  in  the  streets  of  Turkey  and  Egypt,  in  the  manner  of 
sherbet.  Liquorice  is  slightly  laxative  and  cooling,  anti-scor- 
butic, and,  unlike  other  sugars,  quenches  thirst.  The  saccha- 
rine, or  extract  of  liquorice,  is  of  a  very  delicate  character,  and 
easily  destroyed  by  burning  or  oxidation  on  boiling.  Recently, 
under  a  patented  process,  the  application  of  the  vacuum  pan,  as 
in  sugar  boiling,  has  been  attended  with  great  advantage.  The 
result  is  a  much  better  article  than  that  made  by  the  rough  pro- 
cesses in  use  in  Spain  and  Italy. 
The  price  of  liquorice  is  very  little  guide  to  quality  :  some 
foreign  brands,  and  some  forgeries  of  the  same,  selling  at  120s. 
to  150s.,  and  even  170s.,  when  perfectly  pure  extract  of  the  root 
can  be  had  for  50s.,  and  sticks  superior  to  any  others  at  100s. 
