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water from a stream flows from a pipe or bamboo on the top of each 

 box and then over- flows into the tank, which has an outlet pipe 

 2" to 3" from the bottom. By this means a water seal 3" deep is 

 kept round the bottom of the boxes. The mixture of camphor, 

 vapour and steam from the still enter the first box just above the 

 water level, circulates round the various partitions, and so passes 

 from box to box, the camphor being condensed in pure white crys- 

 tals on the walls and partitions as it cols down. The last box is 

 rilled with an outlet of bamboo, which can be kept closely plugged 

 with straw. This acts as a safety valve, and enables one to ascertain 

 whether condensation is perfect, as there should be little or no smell 

 of camphore observable. In working the still is loosely tilled with 

 the fresh prunings as brought in, the top put on and well luted with 

 clay, water poured into the basin, and a fire lit to bring it rapidly to 

 the boil. As soon as this occurs and a slight smell of camphor or 

 eucalyptus can be smelt at the escape tube on the last bo*, the fire 

 is reduced and the water merely kept hot for several hours. A good 

 plan is to have a glass let into the cover of the first, (or all) of the 

 condensing boxes and as soon as vapour begins to condense on it, 

 to immediately reduce the fire to a minimum, as the object to be 

 gained is to drive of all the camphor with as little steam as possible. 

 A small wooden spigot in the top of the still makes it possible to 

 ascertain when all smell of camphor has disappeared, but care must 

 be taken when opening it not to become scalded. When completed 

 probably in 3 to 4 hours the door at the bottom of the still is opened, 

 the prunings removed and the still recharged from the top. All 

 water in the pan, which contains much tannin, etc. in solution is 

 changed by opening the overflow plug and pouring in a fresh quan- 

 tity through the supply tube. During distillation it is necessary to 

 occasionally add some water to the pan to maintain a constant level 

 and prevent burning. To save time it would be best to have two 

 stills connected with the condensers, as with many citronella grass 

 stills, since the one could be filled, while the other distillation was 

 proceeding ; the latter could then be allowed to cool down before 

 opening, without a loss of time. To preserve the heat in the top of 

 the still and ensure the camphor passing away readily, the still 

 should be thickly coated with clay or other non-conducting material, 

 the Japanese method being to surround the still with cane work 

 and ram clay into the space between, 



When a condeser is seen to contain sufficient comphor, it should 

 be opened, and the camphor carefully scraped out, every precaution 

 being taken to keep it .free from dirt or fragments of any descrip- 

 tion, otherwise re-distillation would be necessary if the best price is 

 to be obtained. A wooden scraper should be used, contact with 

 metal being avoided as far as posssible while in the moist condi- 

 tion. 



The camphor should be placed in a well made box like a tea chest, 

 having a perforated false bottom 4" or 5'' from the actual bottom, 

 and the top perfectly closed. In a few days most of the oil will 

 have drained into the lower portion of the box, which should be 



