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Oinnamonum C amphora, Nees 8f Ebernu — The Camphor Laurel is a 

 native of China and Japan ; and in Formosa it covers the whole 

 line of mountains from north to south up to an elevation oi 2,000 

 feet above the level of the sea. It is a tree about 30 feet high, with 

 stiff glossy leaves covered with a glaucous bloom underneath. The 

 stem yields excellent timber, which is much prized on account of 

 its odour. 



Up to quite recent times, according to the Chemist 8f Druggist, 

 the Japanese were denuding their camphor-tree forests, situated in 

 the provinces of Hiogo, Satsuma, and Tosa, in as wasteful a man- 

 ner as the Formosa forests are now being treated ; but a wise go- 

 vernment and a long-headed people came to see that if they were 

 to anticipate future generations they must utilise present resources 

 to the utmost, and by new plantations make good the old trees 

 which have been felled. Under this enlightened policy an immense 

 number of seedlings have been planted, and it is expected that year 

 by year the number of trees available for felling will not diminish, 

 so liberal have been the plantings. 



The original forests still contain enormous supplies of wood ; in- 

 deed, it is stated that the Government reserves alone will suffice 

 for twenty-five years to come. The wood now used is from trees 

 seventy to eighty years old. The tree is a most beautiful one, re- 

 sembling the linden, and having a white flower which fructifies 

 into a red berry. It attains gigantic proportions, and lives to a 

 great age, some trees being known to be over three centuries old. 

 The diameter of such trees is from 15 to 20 feet. In the province 

 of Tosa there is a group of thirteen trees about a century old, which 

 are estimated to be equal to 40,000 lbs. of crude camphor. The 

 wood yields about 5 per cent of camphor, and the roots a larger 

 percentage. 



After the tree is felled the wood is cut into chips, which are 

 placed in the rude boiler or still. This is provided with a false 

 bottom, through which the steam rises, and as it passes through the 

 wood it carries with it the camphor. The vapour is then conducted 

 by the pipe to a condenser containing several partitions filled with 

 cold water ; in the sides of these partitions are apertures opening 

 alternately, so that the vapour takes a circuitous route, and in the 

 jDassage the camphor is deposited in crystals upon the bamboo 

 screens. From these screens the crystals can be readily removed, 

 and they provide an efficient means for draining off the oil. The 

 process is an ancient one, but it is so firmly adhered to by the na- 

 tives and it suits the purpose so well that there appears to be a long 

 future for it. The annual export of camphor from Japan is about 

 5,000,000 lbs., three-fourths of which come to Europe. 



The work of refining camphor in Japan was commenced at Kobe 

 ;i few years ago by the Japan Camphor Company, an American 

 corporation, registered under the laws of the State of New Jersey. 

 They buy the crude camphor as it comes into the Kobe market, 

 and then subject it to resublimation by a peculiar process devised 

 mainly by Dr. A. G. Boyer, chemist to the company and manager 

 of the refinery. Steel retorts are used and these are so constructed 

 that the camphor-oil and water- vapour are conveyed to one recep- 



