240 



THE PRICE OF CAMPHOR ; AND THE WORLD'S CONSUMPTION. 



In 1895 the price of camphor was £8 to £9 per case of one cwt., 

 but during the Chino-Japanese war it reached £20 per cwt., the 

 price at which it apparently stands to-day. This high price may 

 be due to a temporary shortage or to a corner in camphor, and it 

 would be risky to base any estimates on the present inflated 

 prices. 



The total world's consumption probably does not exceed 

 6,000,000 to 7,000,000 lbs., which amount can be produced by 

 Japan and Formosa, though possibly it is becoming more and 

 more difficult in the former country from partial destruction of 

 the trees, and in the latter owing to the dangers of collection. 



Taking a medium estimate of what can be obtained in Ceylon, 

 the planting up of 15,000 to 20,000 acres would supply the above 

 amount, so that the price would rapidly fall and the cultivation 

 grow more or less unremunerative, although the trees would always 

 be a valuable asset in the case of a sudden demand, and would 

 yearly increase in value. 



It was also stated in 1903 that a limited Company had been 

 formed in New York for the production of camphor by synthesis 

 with a share capital of $1,000,000 and with plant for an annual 

 output of 2,000,000 lbs., the annual amount required by the United 

 States. The crude material employed in the manufacture is tur- 

 pentine oil, and the yield is said to be 98 lbs. of camphor from 

 one barrel (136 gallons) of the oil. At the figures quoted, the 

 cost of production might be anything from iod. to is. 4d. per lb., 

 while the cost of production in Ceylon would be considerably 

 below this. The leading camphor consuming countries are : — 



Germany ... 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 lb. 



United States ... 2,000,000 lb. 



England ... 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 lb. 



France ... 1,200,000 lb. 



India ... 1,000,000 lb. 



In estimating the probable yield per acre, it would, I think, be 

 better to calculate on only two prunings a year, i.e.. after the two 

 best growing periods, viz., March to May and October to Novem- 

 ber. During the third year well-grown bushes should then give 

 about 50 to 60 lb. of prunings each, which would give a handsome 

 profit even if present prices were considerably reduced. While 

 it is probable that camphor will be a valuable adjunct as a minor 

 product in many upcountry and other places where Para rubber 

 cannot be grown, it is as well to bear in mind that the demand is 

 somewhat limited, and that India and other countries have also 

 turned their attention to this product during recent years. 



For articles on camphor in previous Jamaica Bulletins, seeB. of Bot. Dept., N.S.,1. 

 Oct., Dec. 1894, p. 170; Do. VI. 12, Dec. 1899, p. 177; B. of Dept. of Agri., IV. 6, 

 June 1906, p. 129 ; Do. IV. 8, Aug. 1906, p, 177 , Do. IV. 10, Oct. 1906, p. 232. 



