144 



ENNEANDRIA. 



The Cinnamon tree, (Laurus cinamo- Fi s- 167 - 



mum,) grows 20 feet high, has a smooth, 

 ash-colored bark, with ovate lanceolate, 

 reticulated leaves. The flowers are 

 small and make no show. (See the 

 figure, which represents only a branch.) 

 The fruit is about the size of an olive, or 

 small filbert, soft, insipid, and of a deep 

 blue, resembling in color some kinds of 

 plum. This pericarp incloses a nut, the 

 kernel of which germinates soon after it 

 falls, and therefore cannot easily be 

 transported to a distance. The inner 

 bark of this tree forms the well known 

 spice called Cinnamon. This tree is a native of Ceylon, 

 Malabar, Sumatra, and other Eastern, warm climates. The 

 barking commences in May and continues until October. 

 For this purpose branches of three years old are cut off, and 

 longitudinal incisions are made on each side of the shoot, so 

 that the bark can be loosened and taken off entire. These 

 strips are then laid in bundles, and allowed to ferment, until 

 the outer and inner layers can be separated. The inner bark 

 which forms the Cinnamon, is next allowed to dry; by which 

 it contracts, and takes the quilled form, after which the smaller 

 pieces are put within the larger ones, and th<> whole being 

 tied in bundles, is ready for sale. 



The Camphor tree, (Laurus camphora,) is very nearly 

 allied to the Cinnamon tree, the appearance of the two de- 

 noting that they belong to the same family. The roots, 

 leaves, and wood of this tree, when rubbed, or heated, emit 

 a strong odor of camphor, every part of the tree also tastes 

 of that peculiar substance. The mode of obtaining the 

 camphor is quite simple. The roots, and smaller branches 

 being chopped into small pieces, are placed in a net, and 

 suspended in a retort, or iron pot, with some water at the 

 bottom. To the retort is fitted a head, or capital, with a 

 spout resembling that of a still. The head contains a quan- 

 tity of straw. On the application of heat to the bottom of 

 the retort, the steam of the water penetrating the contents 

 of the net, extracts the camphor, which, rising with the 

 steam, is deposited on the straw, while the condensed wa- 



What is the mode of gathering and curing the cinnamon bark ? 

 8 the mode of obtaining camphor ? 



What 



