J 70 Remarks on the Culture of Exotic Vegetables. 



finally to remain. Any layers which are not rooted may be 

 relaid, splitting them longitudinally, and allowing the earth 

 to enter the slit, and cutting to the ground any shoots they 

 may have made during the preceding season. Fresh shoots 

 may be laid down at the same time, adding earth and decayed 

 leaves as before. 



It is from the young shoots, wood, and roots of this tree, 

 that a great part of the camphor of commerce is obtained, 

 and might be produced in this Colony to any required quantity 

 for home consumption or exportation. That the tree thrives 

 in the most luxuriant manner, we have sufficient proof in 

 various parts of the Colony, where it attains a considerable 

 size ; but is more generally considered as an article of mere 

 curiosity, than of usefulness ; and it is a matter of surprise 

 that its real value has not attracted the attention it deserves ; 

 especially of late years, when no obstacle has been placed 

 in the way of its culture and manufacture, which may be 

 conducted in the most simple manner, and the crude article 

 is sure to find a ready and profitable demand.* 



The camphor is sometimes found about the roots of the 

 trees in considerable quantities ; but as it does not appear to 

 be generally the case, these exudations may be caused by 

 wounds or other injuries not well known. 



To procure the extract, the wood and roots are to be split 

 very fine (the young twigs require only to be bruised and 

 broken) and boiled up with water in an iron pot, covered 

 with a wooden top, having a deep concavity on the inside, in 

 which a piece of straw or thatch reed must be fixed for the 

 camphor to adhere to as it rises, and from which it is after- 

 wards to be separated, and kept in close casks or boxes, a3 it 

 is extremely volatile. By stirring with a thin piece of 

 board while the boiling proceeds, the camphor may also be 

 collected. To purify the crude camphor, it is necessary to 

 sublimate it with one-sixteenth part of its weight of lime, 

 on a very gentle heat ; but this is more properly the province 

 of the chemist, and requires a particular apparatus for the 

 operation. 



It is observable that several vegetables afford a much 

 larger portion of camphor when the sap is allowed to pass 

 to the concrete state by several months drying. It would not 

 be advisable, however, to split the wood, until the distilla- 

 tion is about to be performed. 



The camphor-tree thrives in a sandy or loamy soil, and 

 bears pruning without injury. If planted in hedge-rows, it 

 may he found most profitable to cut them down at least every 



• Prom several observations made in various parts of the Colony, it is 

 presumed that great quantities of Camphor may be produced from several 

 indigenous trees and shrubs, of which an early notice will be taken 



