235 



100 feet elevation, and where the rainfall was 100 inches falling 

 on about 180 days, the height of the tree was 25 feet with corres- 

 ponding girth ; the next best was a tree at Hakgala 20 feet high, 

 with a spread of 13 feet and a stem girth of 24 inches. In 1898 

 experimental distillation of camphor from the leaves, shoots, and 

 wood were made by Mr. S. A. Owen, of Lindula, and Mr. Nock 

 at Hakgala, with somewhat variable results in some cases no 

 camphor being obtainable, although the atmosphere around the 

 stills was full of the pungent smell, while in another case Mr. Owen 

 obtained camphor at the rate of I5lbs. per ton of prunings or 

 067 per cent. 



In May, 1900, Dr. Willis arranged for a series of distillations, to 

 be conducted by myself in Colombo, and prunings of camphor 

 from Hakgala and other districts were experimented with under 

 varying conditions, the results of which were published in a 

 circular issued by the Royal Botanic Gardens in November, 1901* 



On an average about one per cent, camphor and some oil was 

 obtained, but the results were not always satisfactory owing to 

 some cause not clearly understood at the time. During the last 

 12 months further experimental distillations have been made, 

 with the result, in one instance, that about 2 percent, of camphor, 

 with a small quantity of oil, was obtained, while on the average 

 the yield amounted to I ' 5 per cent, on the fresh prunings and it 

 is upon this basis that estimates may now fairly be made. The 

 yield is somewhat lower than that from twigs of old trees in Japan, 

 which give 2 21 per cent, and much lower than the average from 

 the whole tree, vis., 4 '22 per cent. 



From these experiments the cause of the comparatively low 

 yields previously obtained 'was discovered, and in practice it 

 should now be possible to secure the camphor without loss. 

 Another detailed circular will shortly be issued on the subject by 

 the R. Botanic Gardens, Ceylon ; but meanwhile I propose to 

 briefly describe the method of planting and the precaution 

 necessary in the distillation, if successful results are to be 

 obtained. 



THE SEED FROM JAPAN. 



Up to the present camphor has been raised almost entirely 

 from seed from Japan, plants from cuttings not being readily 

 raised in Ceylon. 



The seed is round, black, and the size of a vetch or sweet pea 

 about 7,000 going to a pound. The germination is frequently 

 very irregular, but seed obtained in November should have a 

 germination of 50 to 60 per cent. ; though in some cases hardly 

 a plant has been obtained from several pounds. 



The seeds should be sown as soon as possible after receipt, 

 first soaking them in water for 24 or 48 hours, and separating the 



* Reprinted in Bulletin of the Department of Agriculture, Jamaica, IV. 6, June 

 1906, p. 129. 



