62 
“SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS. 
* Many improvements upon the methods described can doubt- 
less be made, tending both to a reduction in cost and an increase 
in the proportion of crude material obtained. Instead of an adze 
wielded by hand labor a machine similar to the ‘hog’ used for 
s up waste slabs in sawmills may be used to reduce 
r limbs to the requisite fineness for distillation. Better 
distilling apparatus can probably be devised. Thermometers may 
be introduced to determine the heat in the distilling tub, and the 
furnace aed be so arranged as to permit better control and greater 
economy in fuel. Camphor and camphor oil are both slightly 
soluble in Mtas and the condensing chamber should be improved 
80 as to recover the product that is being Bed Carried off in 
the running stream which cools the cha mber 
“OUTLOOK FOR FUTURE MARKET. 
“The consumption of camphor in the United States, as 
measured by the importations, has been decreasing during the . 
past ten years, while the price has been increasing. 
e tariff act approved July 27, 1897, imposes a duty of 
6 ae per pound on refined camphor ‘and leaves crude camphor 
on ihe free list, as heretofore. 
ere has been an increase in importations of refined camphor, 
= to improved methods of refining and packing in Japan and to 
changes in the tariff, but this increase has been much more than 
counter-balanced by the decrease in importations of crude camphor. 
e decrease may be attributed to the following causes: (1) the 
exhaustion of the supply of the available camphor trees near the 
shipping ports ; (2) the ee restrictions on the trade in 
camphor in Formosa; (3) government taxes on the exportation 
of camphor from Formo osa ; m hostilities and wanton destruction 
of camphor stills by the natives in Formosa ; (5) disturbances in 
the camphor-producing district of China; (6) the China-Japan 
wars ; (Tj attempts by speculators to corner the market. 
* These causes have inereased the price of camphor, and this in 
turn has led to the introduction of substitutes. Ment thol and 
ot ther r pe ppermint eism desee or Aes ame carbolic acid and its 
alin 
argin of profit at present prices. It is therefore apparent that 
if "the production of camphor from the trees is to be carried 
on with profit in this country, and the industry increased to any 
considerable extent, the price of camphor must be co uced to 
l : 
all related to the ordinary iste or Abad but only two bue T 
rneo camphor and Blumea camphor, are of any importance 
commercially. 
_ “Borneo camphor is obtained from the camphor tree of Borneo 
and Suma obalanops aromatica. It is deposited in clefts 
and hellows in the wood, and Yes simply to be taken out. ker 
