8g - 



Moderately long with an average staple cif 3 feet 8 inches. Analysis 

 of the fibre is given in the Bulletin and the report of two brokers who 

 stated that it was of good quality but rather too dry and brittle, the 

 strength colour and length satisfactory. Portions of the sample 

 were' of very good quality and equal to ordinary sisal hemp and 

 would realise at that time (October, 1903) £35 to £$8 per ton, but 

 this price is higher than the average which would be £20 to £25 

 per ton. [Imp. Inst. Bulletin). 



(Agave Americana i grows fairly well in the Straits Settlements, but 

 is perhaps rather slow, slower than the Mauritius hemp. (Fourcrca gi- 

 gantea), but faster than sisal hemp. Agave sisalana, which in Singa- 

 pore at least seems to be the slowest in growth of any of the Aloes.) 



Blumea Balsamiff.ra. 



With reference to a report from the Imperial Institute on 

 this camphor (seep. 23 in January number, vol. Ill) Air. ARDEN 

 writes " This plant which is a member of the large and widely dis- 

 tributed family Composite, occurs fairly abundantly in open places 

 throughout the Malay Peninsula, also in India and elsewhere. 



The genus Blumea contains a large number of species, several of 

 which it is said enter into the composition of the Ngai Camphor of 

 commerce. The one referred to above and the one chiefly employed 

 by the Chinese in the manufacture of this article, is a shrubby plant 

 8-10 ft. high, bearing loose panicles of small yellow flowers, the 

 leaves vary in shape and when bruised smell strongly of camphor. 

 It is known to the Malays as " Chapa " and is largely used by them 

 medicinally as a febrifuge and stomachic, and for various complaints 

 for which I fear it is but a fanciful remedy. 



The camphor obtainable from this plant is of a very good quality, 

 being much superior to .the Formosan camphor, Cinnamomum cam- 

 phora. Hike the Borneo or Sumatra camphor (Barus camphor) the 

 product of Dryobalanops aromatica, a large and slow growing tree 

 which occurs in a few isolated places in the Malay Peninsula- — not- 

 ablv at Rawang and K wan tan and which commands a still higher 

 price, it seldom finds its way into the European market, what little 

 is produced being bought up at fancy prices by the natives to it. 



As stated above, the plant yielding the Ngai camphor is fairly 

 abundant in the Peninsula, and no doubt could be easily cultivated, 

 and it it is found that the active principle contained in the plant is 

 present in sufficient quantity and could be profitably extracted,. it 

 would prove very useful as a "catch crop'' on rubber and coffee 

 estates. It will be seen from the report by Professor D UN STAN that 

 only a minute quantity was obtainable from the sample examined, 

 but this may have been due to the volatile camphor escaping dur- 

 ing transit. 



Further experiments will be undertaken and if the camphor is 

 found in sufficient quantity, its extraction locally from the fresh 

 green plant will probably not present any great difficulty. 



STANLEY ARDEN, 

 Superintendent , Experimental /Plantations. 



Batu Tiga, Selangor, 



