135 
‘At five or six years from the seed the trees should be 7 to 
8 ft. high and very bushy. At this time the trees should be 
trimmed to shape them up into hedges and the first harvest 
should be secured.” } 
Harvesting. 
“On the Department’s experimental plots the trees are 
planted in rows 15 ft. apart and 6 ft. apart in the row. They 
are grown to an A-shaped hedge 8 ft. high and 8 ft. wide at the 
base. By this method they are kept back to a convenient size 
for working and are not dwarfed sufficiently to injure the vigour 
of the tree. At six years from the seed the trees will form a 
solid hedge in each row and will be thick and bushy to the 
ground.” 
“Camphor is represented in the growing tissue by oil, which 
as the leaves mature is changed into camphor. Distillations 
made at different times during the growing season show a rapid 
gain in camphor content as the leaves approach maturity; also 
that it is highest during the dormant period.” 
Extract from article by B. J. Eaton in Bulletin 15, Dept. 
Agriculture, F.M.S., pp. 10 and 11. 
Propagation of Camphor. 
“The seeds were soaked in lukewarm water for 24 hours 
before sowing. The soaking of the seed facilitates germination 
and separates the heavy seeds from the light. The heavy seeds 
sank to the bottom and these were sown by themselves in rows 
3 in. apart each way and about } of an inch below the surface. 
The light seeds were sown broadcast as only a few were expected 
to germinate.” 
‘When the plants are from 10 to 12 in. high they may be 
transplanted, but, before doing so, it is advisable to cut off the 
tops of the seedlings and the ends of the roots. Transplanting 
should be done during the wet season and care taken to keep 
the young plants free from weeds as these retard their growth.” 
‘‘ Nursery Beds.—The beds should be well prepared by deep 
digging and the surface soil brought to a fine tilth. As the seeds 
take from two to six months to germinate, sand should be added 
in order to make the soil sufficiently porous to prevent the seeds 
rotting. It is essential to water and shade the seedlings 
carefully.” 
