211 



SUPPLY AND DEMAND. 



Hitherto, the export of camphor from Asiatic countries 10 

 America and Europe has amounted to about eight million pounds 

 per annum, of an approximate value of two or three million dol- 

 lars. As the production of camplior has hitherto been unscien- 

 tific and improvident, and has been achieved only at the total 

 destruction of the tree wlliich produces it, there has for some year*? 

 been a gradual and appreciable diminution of the available supply. 

 At the same time the uses of the commodity have greatly in- 

 creased. These two factors combined, which have a close parallel 

 in those which have affected the rubber market, have brought 

 about a marked advance in the price of camphor, which wnll prob- 

 ably continue for many years. Indeed, as the Formosa natural 

 forests become exhausted and the demands of the smokeless 

 powder and celluloid makers increase, it is impossible to predict 

 to wdiat extent the price may advance, until affected by the scien- 

 tific cultivation of the tree. Demand has, however, obtained such 

 a start in the race against supply, that the latter, hindered with 

 the handicap of some few years necessary to the establishment of 

 plantations and the determination by experiment of the best 

 methods of production and refinement, must necessarily take a 

 long period to bring about a proper economical balance between 

 these two factors. At present there appears very little prospect 

 of low prices and the grower of camphor has at least as alluring 

 an incentive in the way of an eager market, as is held out to the. 

 rubber planter. As the camphor now produced is practically con- 

 lined to the Orient, the establishment of the industry in Hawaii 

 is one of promise, as it would be in a most advantageous position 

 to supply the home market and would have in addition the benefit 

 of the tariff, with w^hich the foreign grower has to contend. 



HISTORY OF CAMPHOR. 



The w^ord ''camphor" is found with various alterations through- 

 out all oriental languages, and this similarity indicates that a 

 knowledge of the value of the tree has long been known ^nd has 

 probably been derived from a common source. It is mentioned 

 first, in Arabic literature, as early as the sixty century, and Marco 

 Polo relates that he saw large forests of this handsome tree. 



DESCRIPTION AND PROPERTIES. 



Camphor is a vegetable product obtained generally by wood 

 distillation, but it is also sparingly founcf as a natural secretion. 

 It exists as a white translucent chrystalline mass, of a character- 

 istic pungent odor and a peculiar acrid disagreeable taste. It is 

 generally very tenacious and practically impossible to pulverize 

 without the addition of a small quantity of alcohol, when it disin- 

 tegrates readily upon pounding. It burns w^ith a yellow^ flame and 



