131 



information about these trees, some 950 in all, and reports as fol- 

 lows : — 



"During 1895 plants of camphor were distributed from Hakgala 

 to planters in various parts of the Island at elevations ranging 

 from 250 to 6,450 feet, with annual rainfalls varying from 54 in- 

 ches on 104 days to 2\^ inches on 212 days. Replies as to the 

 growth of the plants have been received from thirty localities, 

 and I think it is pretty well proved that under certain conditions 

 of soil and climate camphor will thrive at all elevations in Cey- 

 lon from about sea level to the highest mountains. 



"It appears to thrive best in a well-drained deep sandy loam 

 in sheltered situations with a rainfall of 90 inches and over, and 

 dislikes poor or close, stiff, undrained soil. The growth is slow in 

 sterile soil, but, under favourable conditions, in good soil is 

 very rapid, the tree reaching a height of 18 to 20 feet in five 

 years, with a spread of branches of 8 to 12 feet and a sten. jf 6 

 to 7 inches in diameter. This compares very favourably with the 

 growth of the trees in their native habitat, where a tree 30 feet 

 high and 6 inches in diameter at ten years old is considered good. 

 The best five-year old tree (from planting) in Ceylon is at Veyan- 

 goda, at an elevation of about lOO feet with a rainfall of about 

 100 inches on 180 days. It is 25 feet high and growing luxuri- 

 antly. The next best are at Hakgala, where the largest is 20 feet 

 high, with a spread of 1 3 feet, and a stem-diameter of ^\ inches 

 at the ground. 



"The habit of the trees in Ceylon in good soil is bushy, with a 

 tendency to throw up many stems. This is a point of importance, 

 as it shows that the tree will coppice well and stand frequent cut- 

 tings or prunings, and possibly even plucking of the flush as with 

 tea. In close, hard, undrained or stiff clayey soil the growth is 

 poor, and the habit stunted or dwarfed, and this is also the case 

 in exposed windblown situations. 



" Of course tt is only in the experimental stage here yet, but 

 judging from my experience of it for some years, it is my opinion 

 that as a minor product it should be grown in the form of hedges, 

 planted at distances of 6 to 9 feet apart and 2 to 3 feet apart in 

 the row. The rows should run N.W. and S.E., or across the di- 

 rections of the prevailing winds, and the plants be allowed to grow 

 6 to 9 feet high. Planted in this way there would be ample room 

 for cultivation, and each row would shelter the other from the N. 

 E. and S.W. winds, besides forming a large surface for clipping. 

 As the young shoots appear to yield the most camphor, the crop 

 could be obtained by clipping the hedge with a pair of light shears, 

 and the expense would be very slight. The trees might also be 

 planted at 6 feet apart, and treated in the same way as tea bushes, 

 or they might be planted 12 feet apart, and trained as pyramids, 

 or again planted 4 feet apart and alternate plants coppiced in al- 

 ternate years." 



PROPAGATION, CULTIVATION, &C. 

 Mr. Nock states : — 

 "Camphor plants are best and easily propagated from seeds. 



