215 



about eight feet apart and running across the direction of the- 

 prevaiHng wind's — al^out two to three feet being allowed to each 

 tree. By a system of rigorous pruning the trees would be kept 

 from becoming tall, thus diminishing the cost of labor, and would 

 be induced by constant clipping, to yield a maximum foliage. 

 Experiments conducted on a small scale have shown that trees 

 planted twelve feet apart yield nearly fifty pounds of clippings per 

 tree. As the process may be repeated four times a year about 

 50,000 pounds of green clipping would be the annual yield per 

 acre. The } ield of camphor from fresh leaves is variously esti- 

 mated at from i;^ to 2 per cent, and of the twigs at a little more 

 than 2 per cent. Taking the production of the two sources com- 

 bined at only i^ per cent., the annual crop of camphor per acre 

 would be about 750 pounds. This under the system suggested 

 of closely planted hedges should with care be increased to about 

 one thousand pounds per acre. 



The present price of camphor is about 65 cents per pounck, but 

 basing our estimate at 50 cents and the annual yield at 750 pounds, 

 the gross return per acre would be about $375. It is estimated 

 that the cost of planting, weeding, distillation and fuel would 

 amount to $75, giving a net return per acre of $300. As the 

 uses of this article are greatly increasing, and the supply tending 

 to diminish, the profit per acre would probably be greater than 

 the above estimate upon large plantations, as soon as the most 

 weighty economical problems of the industry have been solved. 

 However taking the moderate price of our estimate, adding one- 

 third more for labor and reducing the anticipated harvest by a like 

 amount a net income of $150 per acre should be secured. On a 

 small plantation of six acres — a venture probably within the reach 

 of almost every one here present — an income of nearly one thou- 

 sand dollars per annum should be secured in about four years. 



COST OF PLANTING. 



The present price in Japan of young camphor trees, about a 

 foot and a half high, is $100 per thousand. Good results, how- 

 ever, may be obtained from seed, which ripens in Japan in October 

 and November. The seed generally does not preserve its vitality 

 unimpaired for a length of time and before planting, it should first 

 be soaked in water for twenty-four hours or upwards. The best 

 seed will be found to sink to the bottom. In planting the seed a 

 well fertilized sandy loam is preferred. Upon this it is sprinkled 

 and covered with sifted earth for about half an inch. About two 

 thousand plants may be obtained from one pound of seed. To 

 conserve moisture and protect the young plants from the sun when 

 they first appear, straw should be strewn upon the bed and a few 

 stakes inserted in the ground to prevent it from blowing away. 

 The trees should be transplanted 6 inches apart and when about 

 12 inches high should be set out permanently. Clipping may be 



