i6s 



available is, however, limited, which from one point of view may be 

 considered a decided advantage, as the supply of camphor can easily 

 be overdone, unless new uses for it are discovered. 



As stated before, camphor has been tried at all elevations, and on 

 all kinds of soil with very variable results. Although the finest tree 

 was grown at Veyangoda, it was generally at high elevations (above 

 4,000 feet) that the best results were obtained. At Peradeniya, 

 1,600 feet, the growth was only medium, and the trees never had a 

 very healthy or vigorous appearance, while the percentage of cam- 

 phor was also somewhat lower. These trees have recently been 

 cut down, and are to be manured experimentally to determine the 

 effect on the growth and camphor contents. 



Some patna soils, notably those in Nuwara Eliya, have suited the 

 tree admirably, but on others, poorer in organic matter, the growth 

 is wretched even after five years and could only result in loss if 

 planted on a large scale. 



Under suitable conditions of soil, climate and exposure the growth 

 should be sufficiently good to yield one or two prunings in the third 

 year, the best method being to clip the bushes all over evenly with 

 ordinary shears, taking shoots of 6 in. to 10 in. in length. These 

 should be collected without loss of leaf, tied in bundles and taken 

 directly to the still. 



Distillation. 



The still required for the purpose is of the simplest description, 

 and very similar to that used by the Japanese in Formosa, with 

 slight improvements in the condensers, as perfect condensation is 

 absolutely essential for success. The slightest smell of escaping 

 camphor may mean a loss of 20 per cent, or more, as has been 

 proved by several experiments, and the two means of preventing 

 it and obtaining the maximum proportion of camphor to oil are 

 absolute condensation and slow distillation with a minimum of heat. 



The still may consist of an ordinary wooden cask, but is better if 

 somewhat conical in shape, and should be about 6' high, 3' diameter 

 at the bottom and 2 / -6" at the top ; and have a close fitting door at 

 the lower end for the removal of the refuse prunings. The top or a 

 portion of it must be removable, but capable of being hermetically 

 closed. From near the top a large diameter bamboo 5' to f long 

 passes to the condensing boxes of wood placed in a suitable tank and 

 connected with short lengths of similar bamboo. The still has a 

 perforated bottom and stands over an iron basin built into a small 

 stone or brick furnace. The basin about 2' 6' to 3' in diameter is 

 filled with a supply tube for adding water as required and an over- 

 flow pipe closed with a plug during distillations. The condensing 

 boxes consist of bottomless boxes of suitable size, having 3 or more 

 partitions in each with communications at opposite ends of each 

 division to insure thorough circulation of the camphor and water 

 vapours. The tops of the boxes are hermetically closed about one 

 inch below the upper edges, and the boxes are stood in the tank as 

 mentioned above, being connected by short bamboo lengths. Cold 



