— i5 — 



falling far behind the latter in fineness of aroma. The very low solu- 

 bility, in spite of the high eugenol-content, shows that we have here 

 to do with an old distillate. 



The anomaly between the two oils may possibly be due to the 

 fact that oil No. i consists only of the oil which in the distillation 

 separates off at the surface of the water, whereas in oil No. 2 the 

 portions of a bay oil distillate which have sunk to the bottom are 

 present. For the production of a normal bay oil the light and heavy 

 portions of the distillate must be combined. 



Camphor Oil. The market of camphor oil, like all other Japanese 

 products, shows a certain nervous feeling which is an impediment for 

 the transaction of business. The advance which has taken place in 

 the camphor-price is associated with the repeatedly circulated rumours 

 that Japan would shortly be compelled to issue another foreign war- 

 loan, for which the camphor-monopoly would have to serve as security. 

 It is believed that in such case the Government would endeavour to 

 obtain control of the parcels of oil now held privately, and that the 

 article would only come on the open market again at decidedly higher 

 prices. This belief cannot be entirely rejected. Something must 

 undoubtedly take place, be it in this form, or in that of a tax on 

 the export, which will raise the price of this article, and we have 

 missed no opportunity of ensuring for a long time ahead our capability 

 of supplying camphor oil and its derivatives. For the time being we 

 are able to refrain from raising the prices of the latter. 



By monopolising the production of camphor and camphor oil in 

 Japan and Formosa, the Japanese Government has obtained an influence 

 which is not exactly in favour of the consumers of these articles. For 

 this reason it is very desirable to create an effective competition 

 against the Japanese monopoly by the cultivation of camphor trees in 

 suitable countries, until perhaps some day the artificial camphor alone 

 takes this part upon itself. Germany is also interested in the question 

 of how to become independent of Japan as far as the supply of camphor 

 is concerned; and since in other tropical countries successful experiments 

 have been made in planting Cinnamomum camphora Nees & Eberm., a 

 commencement has now also been made in the German colonies with 

 the cultivation of camphor- trees, as is reported in communications 

 from the Biologico- agricultural Institute at Amani 1 ). 



The camphor -trees are best grown from seed, which is gathered 

 in Japan in the autumn, and which after being dried, is kept during the 



1 ) Reprint from the "Usambara Post". Communications from the Biologico- 

 agricultural Institute at Amani, January 9, 1904, No. 9. 



