352 



Second period of three hours. Camphor and oil = 0*2 

 per cent. 



Third period of three hours. Camphor and oil = Trace. 



Conclusions: — These experiments indicate that it 

 would probably not be advisable to carry on the distillation 

 for a longer period than three hours in the case of camphor 

 primings. 



Comparison with Previous Investigations. 



The results compare favourably with the investigations 

 of Messrs. Willis and Bamber on the cultivation and pre- 

 paration of camphor in Ceylon (Vide Circular Series I, No. 

 4 Royal Botanic Gardens, Ceylon 1901). Hooper (Vide 

 Pharmaceutica] Journal (56) Vol. ii P. 21) also obtained a 

 yield of 1 per cent of oil from leaves of plants grown in 

 India. In one instance the oil is stated to contain only 

 10-15 per cent of camphor, while another specimen yielded 

 75 per cent of camphor. 



Schimmel <£: Co. in Germany, one of the largest manu- 

 facturers of essential oils, also obtained an oil from the 

 roots, which was stated to consist chiefly of camphor. The 

 amount of camphor isolated from the oil will depend on 

 temperature etc., more camphor can be separated from the 

 oil by cooling, and also by redistilling the oil alone, prefer- 

 ably under reduced pressure, or with steam. 



The camphor is a much more valuable commercial ar- 

 ticle than the oil, but the oil is also used to a considerable 

 extent now for the preparation of safrol, as well as for 

 solvent purposes, in cheap perfumery, soaps, etc. 



Future Experiments. 



The experiments already initiated will be carried on as 

 time permits with further material and with younger trees. 

 The trees in the Experimental Plantation, Kuala Lumpur 

 are only two years old, and experiments will be made with 

 these at intervals, to ascertain the yields at different stages 

 of tbe plant's growth. Experiments are also being made 

 to find the most suitable planting distances, and in addition, 

 the most suitable form of cultivation, methods of pruning 

 and their effects are being investigated. 



Analyses of the soils on which these trees are being 

 cultivated will also be made, and the manurial value of the 

 prunings estimated before and after extraction. 



