COMPOSITION OF VARIOUS TREES 



127 



bored in tlie spring, and the oleo-resin exudes from 

 the interior or heartwood. 



Larch wood is largely used for railway sleepers. 



Laurel [Laurus nohilis, bay laurel, Natural 

 Order, Lauracese) is a hardy evergreen tree. 

 The male and female flowers are on separate trees. 

 It grows in ordinary soils. 



The ashes of the laurel tree contain in 100 

 parts : — 



One ton of laurel extracts 25 lbs. of mineral 

 matter from the soil. 



The leaves of Laurus nohilis yield a yellow 

 volatile oil on distillation, and the so-called bay 

 berries (drupes) contain a volatile oil, a fixed oil, 

 and resin. The fixed oil or "laurel butter" is 

 present in the berries to the extent of 20 to 26 

 per cent., and is obtained by steeping the berries 

 in hot water, and then applying pressure. 



The camphor tree belongs to the same order. 



