CULTURE  AND  COMMERCE  IN  OPIUM  IN  ASIA  MINOR.  367 
The  best  time  for  effecting  purchases,  as  a  rule,  is  at  the  com- 
mencement of  a  season  ;  with  a  small  crop,  however,  the  chances 
are  often  most  in  favor  to  the  buyer  at  the  end  of  a  season,  for, 
according  to  the  remark  that  after  a  small  crop  comes  a  large 
one,  prices  are  generally  affected  towards  the  close  by  the  com- 
ing crop. 
From  a  record  published  by  the  writer  some  months  ago  re- 
specting the  crops  and  shipments  of  Opium  for  the  last  ten 
years,  viz  :  from  July  1857,  to  June  1867,  the  following  items 
may  be  deducted : 
Average  Crops. 
1857—  58.    3026  cases.    Average  price  16,  28* 
1859—  60.    3013     "  "  '      "     18,  58 
1860—  61.    3381     "  "        "     17,  29 
1863—  64.    2866     "  "        <•     17,  88 
3000  cases  @  17.  s.  6.  d.  being  the  average  quantity  and 
price  for  the  above  four  years. 
Short  Crops. 
1858—  59.  1439  cases.  Average  price  19,  76 
1862—63.  2236  "  "  "  18,  01 
1866—67.    2246     "          "        "  16,  92 
2000  cases  @  18.  s.  being  the  average  quantity  and  price  for 
above  three  years. 
Large  Crops. 
1861—  62.    4180  cases.    Average  price  14,  39 
1864—  65.    3893      "  "  '      "     15,  20 
1865—  66.    4135     «  "        "     13,  83 
4000  cases  @  14.  s.  6.  d.  being  the  average  quantity  and 
price  for  the  above  three  years. 
The  total  for  the  ten  years  is  30,415  cases,  or  an  average  of 
3000  cases  per  year  @  16,  39,  say  16.  s.  4J  d. 
The  months  of  June  represent  the  smallest  shipments,  viz  : 
1326  cases,  or  an  average  of  132  cases  per  month. 
The  months  of  October  the  largest,  viz  :  4979  cases,  or  an 
average  of  497  cases  per  month. 
*  These  prices  are  calculated  in  shillings,  and  hundredths  of  shillings, 
per  English  lb.  free  on  board. 
