126 



Forest Lands"; Bulletin No. 36 of the United States Weather 

 Bureau entitled, ''First Report on the Relations between Climate 

 and Crop," by Prof. Cleveland Abbe, and Mrs. Sinclair's Illus- 

 trated Plants of the Hawaiian Islands. 



The Library room of the Board was used on ]\Iarch 22nd for 

 the meeting of the Pawaa Improvement Club ; on ^larch 30th by 

 the Honolulu Improvement Committee, or as it is now called, the 

 Honolulu Improvement Advisory Board ; and on ^larch 29th and 

 April 2nd by the McCully Improvement Club. 



During the period a number of persons have visited the Board 

 building to inspect the woods and fruits and to consult the 

 Library. 



I beg to inform you that I propose to leave Honolulu for a 

 trip to the mainland, by the "^Mongolia" on the 6th or 7th, and 

 expect to return to Honolulu early in July. 



Very respectfully, 



Ralph S. Hosmer. 

 Superintendent of Forestry. 



CAMPHOR IX IXDIA AND CEYLON. 



"Steps should be taken by the Forest Department to encourage 

 the cultivation of the camphor tree. Since the Japanese have 

 had Formosa the price has gone up at least 50 per cent. There 

 is some attempt at cultivating it in Ceylon, and there must be 

 many places in India and Burma wdiere this valuable tree would 

 thrive." This is a cultivation which will no doubt receive the 

 early and serious consideration of the Ceylon Agricultural Board. 

 There are many reasons why the cultivation of camphor should 

 prove attractive to planters. Camphor at present has to be 

 brought a great distance to Western markets, and the supply is 

 very uncertain. Unscientific treatment of the trees has caused 

 a gradual reduction of their numbers, and a deterioration in 

 quality of the produce. It is at present a monopoly of Japan. 

 The uses for camphor are increasing and as the demand increases, 

 the price will rise. A fair start has already been made in Ceylon 

 with the product. — Indian Engineering. 



