— 23 — 
of camphor is found chiefly in the fissures of the wood. Such separation 
has not, however, taken place at that particular spot, but, on the con- 
trary, the crystals occur there at a secondary stage, for the formation 
of the camphor itself only takes place in the oil cells. 
Tlie number of oil cells depends on climatic conditions and on 
the site; specimens of the camphor tree reared in the hothouse of 
the botanical garden at Berne contained, for example, considerably 
fewer oil cells than those which originated from Java. This was 
specially striking in the leaf-stalks which in the camphor tree, like 
in the other lauraceae, are the organs richest in oil. 
Oil of Camphorosma Monspeliaca. Of real botanical interest 
is a study by Cassan^) on Camphorosma Monspeliaca (a member of 
N. O. Chenopodiacese), a shrub found in the South of France, and known 
for its alleged camphor-like odour. The essential oil was obtained 
from the plant by steam distillation and ether extraction in a yield 
of about 0,2 per cent; it showed the following properties: colour 
greenish-yellow, odour suggesting bitter almonds, specific gravity at 
I7°C= 0,970, index of refraction 15°= 1,3724; the rotation could 
not be determined owing to the dark colour. The oil congealed at 
-|- 4^. A series of colour-reactions made with the oil gave no clue 
as to its constituents. It differed from the oil of the closely-related 
Chenopodium anthelminticum (which has the same specific gravity), by 
its pleasant odour. When distilled with aqueous potash Hquor, the 
plant yielded a volatile base, which on examination of the platinum 
salt and the picrate was recognised as propylamine. 
Cananga Oil. The over-production of this oil appears to con- 
tinue, for great efforts are made to stimulate the demand. In pur- 
chasing crude cananga oil, it is advisable to use care, as large parcels 
have now been lying for several years in Holland and at Antwerp, 
of which the quality may possibly be deteriorating. Cananga oil does 
not keep very well, and for this reason over-production should be 
avoided. 
Caraway Oil. According to reports from our buying agents, 
the area under cultivation with caraway in Holland is this year about 
one fourth smaller than in 1901. It is made up as follows: 
in North Holland 
„ Zeeland .... 
about 3000 acres 
1750 
» 1750 
125 
„ Brabant .... 
„ South Holland 
Friesland and Groningen 
Total about 7000 acres. 
^) Etude sur le Camphorosma Monspeliaca. Thesis, Montpellier 1901. 
