14 
(rubber, gutta, resin, alkaloids, etc.) in the latex, which are unuti- 
lizable by the plant, is disproportionately higher than the so-called 
available food stuffs. The former are, however, no necessary waste- 
products of chemical change, but are formed at a great expense of 
organic material. Consequently it must be accepted that the plant 
produces them to perform a definite function. There are, m fact, 
proofs that the latex has a prominent oecological significance. It 
often does the plant good service by closing wounds. In consequence 
of the poisonous, corrosive and unpleasantly tasting substances u 
contains, it particularly protects the plant, as numerous experi- 
ments on euphorbias show, from being eaten by animals. 
The last sentence is hardly applicable to the Para Rubber tree, 
which either because of or despite its latex is greedily attacked by 
animals. 
W. J. G. 
\ 
CAMPHOR OIL. 
We extract the following from an interesting paper by VICTOR 
CayLA in the October number of the “Journal d Agriculture 
Tropicale.” ...... 
The of camphor oil from Formosa increased considerably 
and me '"rapidly than that of camphor from 1897 to 1901, but 
since th it has suffered the same fluctuations. The quantity 
exported 1905 was about four-fifths that of crystallized camphor. 
b( it one-eighth of the production in 1907, but almost 
.. The price in Formosa is about half that of 
ir.phoi'. gtnd rose from 3 yen per picul in 1888 to 
Japan tool 
the half i’ 
cr> stallize 
15 yen in a-J. 
The oil is got from the camphor tree of Formosa and Japan, 
Cinnaffiomu..i Camphora Nees ; it forms from two-thirds to three- 
fourths of the matter entering the condensing vessels in the process 
of extraction. The yield from a tree is variable ; the more camphor 
o l the less crystallized camphor, as the alter is soluble in he 
former The Japanese method of extraction gives more than the 
Chinese and young trees more than old, and the twigs and leaves 
more ton the trunk. Camphor oil is a mixture of pure camphor 
and essential oils. Formerly camphor oil was treated as valueless 
but the rise in the price of camphor has drawn attention to it, and 
of the application of modern methods withdraws half of it as p e 
camphor. The remainder can be separated into a light and a 
h eav v oil. The oil is utilized in numerous ways; it is an 
excellent solvent of lacquers, varnishes, gums, caoutchouc, etc., an 
replaces terebinth oil as a cleanser of articles, such as printing type, 
soiled by fatly inks. The heavy oil is of less value. 
W. J. G. 
