366 



THE d.GRlCULTURAL NEWS. 



Deiember 13, 1919, 



An essential condition tor success is to plant the 

 proper material. It appears Jrom a comprehensive 

 article on camphor cultivation m the United .States' , 

 that'no trouble in this respect has been encountered 

 there. Distillation of the leaves and twigs always 

 yielded distillates from which a high proportion of 

 solid camphor — over 1 o per cent. — has been obtained. 

 When the camphor tree was first introduced into the 

 United States is not clear, but several trees in Florida 

 ■were brought in as seedlings, presumably from the 

 East, between 1870 and 187-5. From their seeds have 

 been grown many of the camphor trees of that State. 



In the Federated Malay States camphor was first 

 grown experimentally in 1904. from seeds and seedlings 

 imported from Japan. The trees produced, have yield- 

 ed in most cases oil containing a satisfactory proportion 

 of solid camphor, but the oil itself differs from the 

 Japanese product, and is less valuable.'' ^ 



The camphor tree referred to here is G. Cam- 

 phora: it is of interest to note that a camphor- 

 j ielding tree, Dryobalanops Camphora, Colebrook = 



■ D. aro'iiiatica, Gaertn., is indigenous to the Fede- 

 rated Malay States. This tree also occurs naturally 

 in Borneo, and is indeed commonly known as Borneo 

 camphor. It has a special use in the East, 

 notably in China, for embalming purposes.'' No 

 definite information is available regarding its commer- 



•cial value. 



The introduction of the camphor tree into 

 Mauritius has been less successful than in the case of 

 the United States and the Federated Malay States. 

 An e.\amination of samples of oil from the Mauritius 

 trees has shown these oils to contain no solid camphor, 

 and the oils themselves differ greatly from the ordinary 

 camphor oils of commerce obtained from China and 

 Japan. ' 



In the West Indies, the situation in regard to the 

 nature of e.xisting camphor trees is becoming more 

 satisfactory. In Dominica" recent distillations have 

 shown that a number of plants introduced from 

 Trinidad in 1911 are true camphor trees ; the yield of 

 solid camphor however is some whs t low, about 1 per 

 cent. On the other hand, certain specimens in 

 Dominica yield oil only. Plants of the true cam- 

 phor trees are being raised for commercial planting 

 As this work proceeds it will be important to prevent 

 hybridization between the desirable ami undesirable 

 strains. 



'F'here is a small plantation of good camphor trees 

 -at St. Augustine, Trinidad, which have fruited this 



year. There is a well-grown camphor wind-break at 

 the same place. 



In the case of St. Vincent,"* anold camphor tree 

 over 100 years of age has been examined and found to 

 be C. Camphora, var. gluucescens. This variety is 

 always oil-yielding, so far as is known. 



Before recommending the planting of camphor on 

 a large scale in the West Indies, consideration should 

 be given to possible contingencies, especially in regard 

 to pests and diseases. In Florida much trouble 

 has been occasioned by thrips,' which have caused 

 the death of seedlings and young trees. The 

 same species attacks camphor trees in Ceylon. Other 

 pests of camphor include a leaf miner, a twig borer and 

 a bag-worm. As regards diseases, in the Federated 

 Malay States some trouble is caused by a thread- 

 blight fungus which is identical with that attack- 

 ing Hevea rubber. ' " 



These maladies, however, appear to be controllable, 

 and as far as one can judge, there is no reason to 

 anticipate any serious trouble from pests and diseases 

 in suitable localities iu the West Indies. 



For camphor there is undoubtedly a demand, and 

 it is a product easily produced and tiansported. It is 

 essential first of all to obtain proper planting material 

 — material which will produce trees yielding a high per- 

 centage of solid camphor and oil of correct composition. 

 The camphor tree suits a wide range of soils, but 

 prefers well drained soil of a light character. Clip- 

 ping can be commenced systematicilly when the trees 

 are four or five years old, ami according to American 

 estimates, an acre should yield about 200 ft), of 

 marketable camphor. In order to allow the provision 

 of an efficient distillation plant to obtain the camphor 

 at a minimum cost, it is stated that at least o<>0 

 acres should be planted. 



At present, in Dominica and other places in the 

 West Indies, one is inclined to recommend the planting 

 of camphor trees as wind-breaks and as hedges in as 

 many ditilerent situations as possible. It will then 

 soon be found which are the most suitable places for 

 maximum growth, and on the basis of this experience 

 it should be easy for planters to decide in the matter 

 of more extensive planting along organized and plan- 

 tation lines. 



1 On Cainplioi' Oil. Perfiimc/y and Essential Oil Ren„(l 

 Mareli I'.tlil. " * 



2 DctTcusiiij^ Sup|)ly of CiUii|ilior. A<iricultii,ral Ncn-f 

 Vol. XVll, ].. 405. 



3 Caiii])lii)r CiiUivation in tli« Brilisli Eiupire. IgruiuUii'nl, 

 New>, Vol. XVI 11, p. 173. 



4 Camphor Cultivation in tliu I'liiteil .S'atos. i'mr-Litjul: 

 I'nited States Depaitmont of Agi-icuUiiro, 1910. 



