i6 5 
available is, however, limi.ed, which from one point of view may be 
considered a decided advantage, as the supply of camphor can easily 
be overdone, unless new uses for it are discovered. 
As stated before, camphor has been tried at all elevations, and on 
all kinds of soil with very variable results. Although the finest tree 
was grown at Veyangoda, it was generally at .high elevations (above 
4,000 feet) that the best results were obtained. At Perademya, 
1*600 feet, the growth was only medium, and the trees never had a 
very healthy or vigorous appearance, while the percentage of cam- 
phor was also somewhat lower. These trees have recently been 
cut down, and are to be manured experimentally to determine the 
effect on the growth and camphor contents. 
Some patna soils, notably those in Nuwara Eliya, have suited the 
tree admirably, but on others, poorer in organic matter, the growth 
is wretched even after five years and could only result in loss if 
planted on a large scale. 
Under suitable conditions of soil, climate and exposure the growth 
should be sufficiently good to yield one or two primings in the third 
year, the best method being to clip the bushes all over evenly with 
ordinary shears, taking shoots of bin. to 10 in. in length. These 
should be collected without loss of leaf, tied in bundles and taken 
directly to the still. 
Distillation. 
The still required for the purpose is of the simplest description, 
and very similar to that used by the Japanese in Formosa, with 
slight improvements in the condensers, as perfect condensation is 
absolutely essential for success. The slightest smell of escaping 
camphor may mean a loss of 20 per cent, or more, as has been 
proved by several' experiments, and the two means of preventing 
it and obtaining the maximum proportion of camphor to oil are 
absolute condensation and slow distillation with a minimum of heat. 
The still may consist of an ordinary wooden cask, but is better if 
somewhat conical in shape, and should be about 6' high, 3' diameter 
at the bottom and 2'-6" at the top ; and have a close fitting door at 
the lower end for the removal of the refuse prunings. The top or a 
portion of it must be removable, but capable of being hermetically 
closed. From near the top a large diameter bamboo 5 to 7 long 
passes to the condensing boxes of wood placed in a suitable tank and 
connected with short lengths of similar bamboo. The still has a 
perforated bottom and stands over an iron basin built into a small 
stone or brick furnace. The basin about 2' 6' to 3 m diameter is 
filled with a supply tube for adding water as required and an over- 
flow pipe closed with a plug during distillations. The condensing 
boxes consist of bottomless boxes of suitable size, having 3 or more 
partitions in each with communications at opposite ends of each 
division to insure thorough circulation of the camphor and water 
vapours The tops of the boxes are hermetically closed about one 
inch below the upper edges, and the boxes are stood in the tank as 
mentioned above, being connected by short bamboo lengths. Cold 
