21 



cultivation of camphor trees, but the experiments had chiefly been 

 confined to Florida. With regard to the latter, an official report will 

 probably be published shortly. In any case, it appears that for the 

 present no practical result can be expected. 



The statements made in our last Report 1 ) have induced T. Ku- 

 magai 2 ) to enter into the question of the danger which might threaten 

 Japan, if it were possible to make serious competition to the Monopoly, 

 on the one hand by the production of natural camphor in other 

 countries, and on the other hand by the manufacture of artificial and 

 synthetic camphor. That such a danger is actually possible, Kumagai 

 believes to be beyond a shadow of doubt. For this reason he con- 

 siders it advisable that Japan should in good time take preventive 

 measures; apart from suitable steps to be taken by the Treasury and 

 the Management, he looks for such measures chiefly in the forestry 

 policy and the chemical technology. 



With regard to the measures of forestry policy, the Japanese 

 Government should, in Kumagai's opinion, take care that new cult- 

 ivations of camphor trees are laid out, which outside Formosa should 

 also extend over Japan and eventually Korea. The experience gained 

 in the science of forestry should be used to the greatest possible 

 advantage; among this he reckons greater facilities in transportation. 

 The parties interested should have placed at their disposal, for a 

 small consideration, light portable apparatus for a rational distillation, 

 but above all, free instruction in the cultivation, planting, distillation, etc. 

 should be provided. Plants yielding borneol, such 2&Dryobalanops aromatica, 

 Blumea balsamifera, etc. should also be cultivated in Japan and Formosa. 



From the point of view of chemical technology, the measures which 

 come under consideration are, a rational cultivation of plants yielding 

 oil of turpentine, for the production of artificial camphor, and also 

 the search for a material possibly even more suitable than turpentine oil. 



Now, although artificial camphor manufactured in Japan does not 

 exclude competition for the natural camphor, such competition could 

 be met by a suitable extension of the Monopoly so as to include 

 artificial camphor. 



In connection with this work, the Deutsche Japan Post publishes 

 a report from the Chamber of Commerce at Yokohama, wich follows 

 here in extenso. Some statistical figures for 1906 (estimated) can 

 already be found in it. 



The demand for camphor' for industrial and other purposes is constantly 

 increasing, and against this an insufficient supply makes itself felt. In the 

 year 1867 purified camphor was sold at 16 yen per 100 kin (1 kin = 601 g.). 



x ) Report October 190G, 20. 



2 ) Deutsche Japan-Post, Yokohama, 5 (1907), 8. 



