(rums, Resins, 



478 



[Dec. 1906. 



with those parts, that the camphor tree takes from 30 to 50 years to grow to a 

 commercial value. 



I have seen what is called leaf camphor occasionally come here from the 

 mainland of China, where in the provinces of Kwang So and Fokien there are a 

 certain number of camphor trees scattered about in the forests. 



Whether this leaf camphor has been coming over recently in the small 

 shipments which have been made during the last twelve months, owing to the 

 extreme prices that have been paid for crude camphor, I cannot say ; but this Ave 

 do know, that the camphor from the mainland of China is not usually so well 

 distilled and contains much more oil, and is sometimes of a dark coloui ; whether 

 those defects are caused by the leaves, I am unable to say. 



The original price fixed by the Japanese Monopoly was 178s. per cwt., so 

 that even under favourable conditions, so long as the monopoly remains in 

 existence, I do not think there is any probability at all of the price dropping below 

 that figure, at the same time the present inflated price cannot be expected to be 

 maintained, as I told Mr. Young, when once supplies come to hand from Formosa 

 and Japan either in crude or the manufactured state.— Believe me, yours very truly, 



(Signed) FRANK B. EASTWOOD. 



