180 



absence of definite information in this regard the kind of fertiliser pro- 

 ducing most rapid growth of wood in the orange or in other fruit trees 

 may be taken as an index. 



" Propagation. 



" Camphor trees may be grown either from seed or from cuttings. 

 They are usually grown from seed, as the trees fruit abundantly, and 

 seedlings can be grown more easily than cuttings. The seeds are col- 

 lected at maturity in October and November, and after drying are 

 packed in sharp white sand or some similar material to keep them fresh 

 until the time of planting in spring. About the last of March they are 

 sown in drills in the seed bed. 



" The soil of the seed bed should be a good sandy loam mixed with 

 about one-third leaf mould. The seed bed should be kept moist, but 

 not too wet, and should be shaded from the direct rays of the sun if the 

 weather is warm. The best soil temperature for germinating camphor 

 seeds is from 70 ° to 75 ° F. The temperature of the atmosphere may 

 be ten degrees higher. The seedlings will grow well at higher temper- 

 atures, but are likely to lack vigour and hardiness. 



" The seedlings may be grown in pots, which will facilitate trans- 

 planting at any time, or they may be transplanted in nursery rows 

 early in April when one year old. Plants two years old are generally 

 regarded as best for final planting. At this age they vary from 20 te 

 40 inches in height. 



" Planting and Cultivation. 



" In Japan, where the law requires that a new tree shall be set out 

 for every one cut, they are not generally set in straight orchard rows,, 

 but cultivation there is performed almost exclusively by hand labour. 

 There are no records showing results of regular orchard planting, hence 

 the distances at which trees should be planted must be determined by 

 the size and form of the trees and the methods of cultivation and of pro- 

 curing the gum. They may be set closely in rows about 10 feet apart, 

 and alternate rows cut and reset every five years, thus producing bush- 

 like plants of ten years' growth. They may be planted in checks 1Q 

 feet square, and alternate trees cut every ted to twelve years, or they 

 may be planted in larger checks, and all of the trees be cut at the age 

 of fifteen or twenty years. 



" There are not sufficient data obtainable upon which to base de- 

 finite statements as to the best methods of planting, or the age at 

 which the trees may be cut with greatest profit. A recent English 

 consular report from Japan states that 4 although hitherto the youngest 

 wood from which camphor was extracted was about seventy to eighty 

 years old, it is expected that under the present scientific management 

 the trees will give equally good result after twenty-five or thirty years.' 

 Uamphor of good quality has been produced in Florida from the leaves 

 and twigs of trees less than twenty years old, 1 pound of crude camphor 

 being obtained from 77 pounds of leaves and twigs. 



" The trees will endure severe pruning with little apparent injury. 

 One-third of the leaves and young shoots may be removed at one time 



