236 



heavier ones from those that float. The beds should be carefully- 

 prepared and protected from insects and vermin, as the seeds are 

 very liable to be eaten. The soil should be a free sandy loam, 

 with a good proportion of leaf mould, and well drained. The 

 seed may also be germinated in pure sand or waste fibre and any 

 care given at this stage would be well repaid. 



It should be sown about three quarters of an inch deep, and the 

 beds well shaded to preserve an even degree of moisture, which 

 is essential for germination. 



The seedlings should, when 3 to 4 inches high, be pricked out 

 into well-prepared soil in supply baskets (or bamboo pots) and 

 kept shaded and watered until they begin to grow; when the 

 shade can be gradually removed to accustom them to the full 

 sun. 



When 9 to 15 inches high they are at their best for planting 

 out, but may remain in the nursery until 2 feet or more if the 

 weather is not suitable. It is needless to point out the necessity 

 of waiting for suitable planting-weather rather than run the risk 

 of losing them altogether, but, if dry weather should occur after 

 planting out, thickly mulching the soil round the plant with any 

 available organic matter will do almost as well as watering to 

 keep them going until the rains fall. Mr. Nock has tried making 

 cuttings from suitable branches, but not very successfully, as if 

 too dry they soon shrivel up, and too wet and cold they decay- 

 before the roots are formed. These attempts were made at 

 Hakgala, and possibly better success would be obtained at lower 

 elevations and in a warmer climate. Here again waste coconut 

 fibre might be tried, as it would be a great advantage to obtain 

 plants by this means. 



The best material for cuttings is that from straight, healthy, 

 and well-matured shoots of the current year's growth, about \ to 

 I inch in thickness and 6 to 9 inches long. The cuts should be 

 clean and just below a joint to form the base of the cutting, this 

 being a point of great importance. 



The beds for cuttings should be similar to those for seeds, and 

 may have a layer of charcoal and sharp sand an inch thick on 

 the surface. 



To insert the cuttings an opening is made with a spade, the 

 cutting put in, and the spade withdrawn, allowing the earth to 

 fall back into its place and then pressing it firmly down. They 

 should be planted as soon after removal from the tree as possible, 

 and the beds well shaded, gradually allowing them sunlight as 

 they become rooted, which takes place from 2 to 3 months. 



Camphor may also be propagated by layers, where the branches 

 are low enough for the purpose ; and this will probably be found 

 one of the best means of obtaining good plants and possibly of 

 selection for yield. The branches should be bent down, laid in 

 a trench in the soil after being cut or twisted to break some of 

 the fibres and encourage root development, then covered with 

 soil, small pegs being inserted to keep them in position. 



