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CAMPHOR CULTIVATION/^ 



There has been much talk of late in Ceylon planting circles con- 

 cerning the possibility of camphor cultivation in that Island, and 

 many are anxious to learn whether operations are likely to prove 

 profitable, especially in view of the extreme scarcity and high 

 prices which now appear to be more or less permanent. Camphor 

 has been cultivated for experimental purposes in Ceylon and 

 India for a number of years, but not until quite recently has it 

 been successfully produced. So far as we can learn, the planter 

 has not the best methods of distillation at his disposal, and has 

 not been able to extract camphor in paying quantities. This is 

 well illustrated by the fact that nine months ago there were over 

 one hundred acres under the camphor plant in Ceylon, yet up to 

 the present not more than a ton of crude camphor has been 

 produced. Recently the Governor of Ceylon has been talking of 

 the potentialities of camphor culture and since then there has 

 been an unprecedented rush for seed. Concessions of land have 

 been granted in Ceylon, and planting will shortly commence on a 

 substantial scale : and as the climatic conditions are said to be 

 similar to those of Formosa, there seems every reason that the 

 experiment should ultimately be successful. It appears, however, 

 there is great difficulty in obtaining true camphor-seed from Japan, 

 as, naturally, the Japanese are prepared neither to assist the 

 planter nor to give away the secrets of their distillation. If it 

 were possible to get hold of a Japanese or Chinaman actually 

 engaged in the camphor industry, the difficulty might be cjuickly 

 solved, as the Ceylon planter has everything to learn regarding 

 distillation. In other words, he has a certain quantity of raw 

 material at hand, and is as yet unable to obtain an adeciuate yield 

 of the crude product. Mr. Kelway Bamber, the Ceylon Govern- 

 ment chemist, has been at work for some time at Peradeniya, and 

 has succeeded in perfecting an inexpensive still which it is hoped 

 will render the process an easy one. The profit at present prices 

 would be considerable, but a grower would probably have to take 

 a much lower price than the ruling quotation of 350s. per cwt. 

 The demand for camphor is only a limited one, but we believe the 

 danger of over-production in Ceylon is remote, and that planters 

 would be justified in going ahead. 



Ever since the Japanese monoply was established some eight 

 years ago, the crude-camphor market has been more or less 

 starved or only supplied with extremely limited quantities. This, 

 of course, is not entirely the fault of the Japanese Government, as 

 they have encountered many difficulties in working their monoply 

 in Formosa. Labour-troubles, native rebellions, earthquakes, and 

 the late war have all contributed their quota in regard to diminished 

 shipments. One fact, however, stands out prominent since the 

 institution of the monoply — i.e., the refining of camphor in Europe 

 and the United States has dwindled to a mere shadow compared 



" From " The Chenmt and Druggist" Aug., 18, 1 906, p, 30.S. 



