(Hums, Resins, 



[Dec. 1906. 



in value— provided it can be had from other sources than Formosa and Japan, and 

 the monopoly broken — these authorities say Japan cannot, even if she were inclined 

 to, flood the market without seriously damaging her sources of supply, as each tree 

 is cut down and destroyed. 



But the camphor resources of Formosa are not " boundless aud inexhaustible. 

 They have diminished at least 15 per cent in the last twenty-five years. In the settled 

 districts the tree is practically extinct, and every year the area of settlement in- 

 creases. At present, camphor making and settlement go hand in hand ; the stills are 

 never far from a village, even when in the " Savages' country." Another authority 

 says that, " Considering all the available data it will be safe to estimate that, allow- 

 ing for a considerable increase in the output, there is enough camphor in Formosa to 

 supply the world for fifty years to come." I am very doubtful if the establishment 

 of the Formosa Monopoly will have a beneficial effect on the future of camphor. 

 One good feature, however, is that it gives the Japanese Government a direct in- 

 terest in seeing that the world's chief store of camphor is properly husbanded. 



It is true that camphor laurels are found growing wild in other countries 

 besides Japan and Formosa— for instance, in In do-China, as also in Sumatra— but 

 they do not seem to be available for camphor-making to any extent ; at the present 

 time, therefore, we find the world's supply of camphor more than ever under Jap- 

 anese control. Let us hope this control will be honestly exercised ! 



I am informed in regard to camphor in Formosa that : — " Under favourable 

 conditions an average of thirty feet in height, with trunks six to eight inches at the 

 base may be expected in trees ten years from the seed. But trees under thirty years 

 growth are reckoned as of no use for camphor making, When a camphor tree is cut 

 down, the stumps if allowed to stand, will grow fresh shoots." 



The Formosa system of working camphor is quite contrary to that of Ceylon 

 where only the tips and younger branches are clipped periodically, and the stuff 

 distilled. To have a paying camphor concern in Ceylon, I consider it would be 

 necessary to plant at least 50 acres ; and 100 acres under this cultivation would be 

 still better. I have just seen and carefully examined a very interesting specimen of 

 the C iiinamomuru camphor tree, at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh- It is in 

 the " Temperate House," where in winter the temperature often falls to 34°. This 

 tree at present stands about 40 feet in height, and the stem at 4 feet above the 

 ground is llj inches in girth. The age of this specimen is very doubtful ; but it is 

 said to be from 15 to 20 years old. The head gardener informed me that to his 

 knowledge this tree had made 20 feet growth within the last 7 years when he planted 

 it out. This tree was never known to flower or seed, and strange to say, Mr. Sinclair 

 reports the same singularity with regard to his camphor on Rangala and in Ceylon 

 generally. Undoubtedly, the camphor tree will yield and flourish in most tropical, 

 and especially sub-tropical, countries. It grows freely in Ceylon at sea level, and I 

 have seen it in great luxuriance at Hakgala, 4,500 feet above sea level ; and at the 

 same time it was flourishing in Nuwara Eliya at 6,600 feet elevation. Only very 

 ecently a friend told me he knew of a grove of camphor of satisfactory growth in 

 Southern Italy. 



To my mind the danger ahead for this cultivation is that it will soon be 

 Overproduced, and consequently the price will fall to a non*paying level. I had 

 a talk with Mr. R. S. Corbett on the subject, and he pointed out that camphor 

 was an article of commerce that could easily be over-supplied. He remembered 

 when it was selling in London at 60s* per cwt*, and would again revert to this 

 figure were the article laid down in profusion On the other hand> Mr. F. B. 

 Eastwood is an enthusiast in favour of camphor, aud when I told him of Mr* 

 Corbett's views, he said " Quite true, but that is all altered now 5 for you cannot 

 make celluloids without camphor, and the manufacturers must have it at any 



