i66 
water from a stream flows from a pipe or bamboo on the top of each 
box and then over- flows into the tank, which has an outlet pipe 
2" to 3" from the bottom. By this means a water seal 2" deep is 
kept round the bottom of the boxes. The mixture of camphor, 
vapour and steam from the still enter the first box just above the 
water level, circulates round the various partitions, and so passes 
from box to box, the camphor being condensed in pure white crys- 
tals on the walls and partitions as it c^ols down. The last box is 
filled with an outlet of bamboo, which can be kept closely plugged 
with straw. This acts as a safety valve, and enables one to ascertain 
whether condensation is perfect, as there should be little or no smell 
of camphore observable. In working the still is loosely tilled with 
the fresh prunings as brought in, the top put on and well luted with 
clay, water poured into the basin, and a fire lit to bring it rapidly to 
the boil. As soon as this occurs and a slight smell of camphor or 
eucalyptus can be smelt at the escape tube on the last box, the fire 
is reduced and the water merely kept hot for several hours. A good 
plan is to have a glass let into the cover of the first, (or all) of the 
condensing boxes and as soon as vapour begins to condense on it, 
to immediately reduce the fire to a minimum, as the object to be 
gained is to drive of all the camphor with as little steam as possible. 
A small wooden spigot in the top of the still makes it possible to 
ascertain when all smell of camphor has disappeared, but care must 
be taken when opening it not to become scalded. When completed 
probably in 3 to 4 hours the door at the bottom of the still is opened, 
the prunings removed and the still recharged from the top. All 
water in the pan, which contains much tannin, etc. in solution is 
changed by opening the overflow plug and pouring in a fresh quan- 
tity through the supply tube. During distillation it is necessary to 
occasionally add some water to the pan to maintain a constant level 
and prevent burning. To save time it would be best to have two 
stills connected with the condensers, as with many citronella grass 
stills, since the one could be filled, while the other distillation was 
proceeding ; the latter could then be allowed to cool down before 
opening, without a loss of time. To preserve the heat in the top of 
the still and ensure the camphor passing away readily, the still 
should be thickly coated with clay or other non-conducting material, 
the Japanese method being to surround the still with cane work 
and ram clay into the space between. 
When a condeser is seen to contain sufficient comphor, it should 
be opened, and the camphor carefully scraped out, every precaution 
being taken to keep it free from dirt or fragments of any descrip- 
tion, otherwise re-distillation would be necessary if the best price is 
to be obtained. A wooden scraper should be used, contact with 
metal being avoided as far as posssible while in the moist condi- 
tion . 
The camphor should be placed in a well made box like a tea chest, 
having a perforated false bottom 4" or 5" from the actual bottom, 
and the top perfectly closed. In a few days most of the oil will 
have drained into the lower portion of the box, which should be 
