8g 
moderately long with an average staple of 3 feet 8 inches. Analysis 
of the fibre is given in the Bulletin and the report of two brokers who 
stated that it was of good quality but rather too dry and brittle, the 
strength colour and "length satisfactory. Portions of the sample 
were of very good quality and equal to ordinary sisal hemp and 
would realise at that time (October, 1903) £35 to £38 per ton, but 
this price is higher than the average which would be £20 to £25 
per ton. (Imp. Inst. Bulletin). 
(Agave Americana , grows fairly well in the Straits Settlements, but 
is perhaps rather slow, slower than the Mauritius hemp. ( Fourcrea gi- 
gantea ), but faster than sisal hemp. Agave sisaldm , which in Singa- 
pore at least seems to be the slowest in growth of any of the Aloes.) 
Blumea Balsamiff.ra. 
With reference to a report from the Imperial Institute on 
this camphor (see p. 23 in January number, vol. Ill) Mr. Arden. 
writes “ This plant which is a member of the large and widely dis- 
tributed family Composite, occurs fairly abundantly in open places 
throughout the Malay Peninsula, also in India and elsewhere. 
The genus Blumea contains a large number of species, several of 
which it is said enter into the composition of the Ngai Camphor of 
commerce. The one referred to above and the one chiefly employed 
by the Chinese in the manufacture of this article, is a shrubby plant 
8-10 ft. high, bearing loose panicles of small yellow flowers, the 
leaves vary in shape and when bruised smell strongly of camphor. 
It is known to the Malays as “ Chapa ” and is largely used by them 
medicinally as a febrifuge and stomachic., and for various complaints 
for which I fear it is but a fanciful remedy. 
The camphor obtainable from this plant is of a very good quality, 
being much superior to the Formosan camphor, Cinnamomum cam- 
phora. Llike the Borneo or Sumatra camphor (Barus camphor) the 
product 0/ Dryobalanops aromatica , a large and slow growing tree 
which occurs in a few isolated places in the Malay Peninsula--not- 
ablv at Rawang and Kwantan and which commands a still higher 
price, it seldom finds its way into the European market, what little 
is produced being bought up at fancy prices by the natives to it. 
As stated above, the plant yielding the Ngai camphor is fairly 
abundant in the Peninsula, and no doubt could be easily cultivated, 
and if it is found that the active principle contained in the plant is 
present in sufficient quantity and could be profitably extracted, it 
would prove very useful as a “catch crop ” on rubber and coffee 
estates. It will be seen from the report by Professor Dun STAN that 
only a minute quantity was obtainable from the sample examined, 
but this may have been due to the volatile camphor escaping dur- 
ing transit. 
Further experiments will be undertaken and if the camphor is 
found in sufficient quantity, its extraction locally from the fresh 
green plant will probably not present any great difficulty. 
STANLEY ARDEN, 
Superintendent , Experimental Plantations . 
Batu Tiga, Selangor , 
