The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-03-16
GROWING CAMPHOR TREES.
EFFORTS TO CULTIVATE THEM IN
THE UNITED STATES.

The Tree Fiourishes in the South and
in California How the Gum is
Extracted From the Wood.
n STEADY increase in the price
N Of camphor directs attention to
~ the various efforts that have been
e made to domesticate the tree of
China and Japan in the United States.
Several explanations have been given
to account for this advance. One theory
is that anufacturers of smokeless
powder have used immense quantities OF
camphor, another is that makers of cellu-
loid goods have taken the surplus stock,
and more too; a third explanation is
that the supply of camphor and the
growth of the trees in Southern Japan
have decreased of late years. Whatever
the cause may be, the fact remains that
the price of gum camphor is now double
what it was ten years ago.
The cultivation of the camphor tree
in this country is no new thing. Ever
since the establishment of the Depart
ment of Agriculture these trees have
been distributed yearly to greater or
less extent. But it is only within the
last four or five years that camphor trees
have been sent out in large numbers. Mr..
William Saunders, Superintendent of the
Gardens at Washington, ID. c., states
that the distribution has averaged 5000
plants annually. Last year something
like 5000 plants were distributed by the
Department of Agriculture. So it would
seem that the high price of camphor has
had the effect of redoubling previous eff
forts to domesticate the tree in suitable
localities.
The camphor tree flourishes we'll in
several regions of the United States. II
grows to considerable size and beauty
in those Southern States that border on
the Gulf. In fact, most of the trees
have been sent to Florida aud Texas,
where they answer a good purpose as
shade trees. Thus far little effort has
been made to extract camphor from the
branches for commercial purposes.
Another region where the camphor tree
flourishes is in California, especially
along the Pacific Coast. Many of the
trees sent out there years ago have grown
very rapidly, thus, in Yuba County, in
fourteen years, tree attained to hight
of fifty feet. The camphor tree is an
evergreen, and, ON account of its beauty,
it will have its use as shade tree. Be-
sides the especial advantage of the tree
for ornament alone, so botanists say, is
its exemption from insect parasites,
which i'll the coast region bother all our
indigenous evergreens and stunt their
growth.
The camphor tree stands the coast cli-
mate as far north as Carolina. Some
years ago large number of trees were
raised in the gardens at Washington
from seed sent from South Carolina. The
seeds are often sown in garden border,
and in the first season will reach to a
hight of from eighteen to twenty-eight
inches. The plants are raised IN the
nurseries of the Department. The cam.
phor tree will stand good frost without
injury; no place where the thermometer
falls below twenty degrees Fahr. is fitted
for the growth of this tree.
The uterior motive in domesticatinp
the camphor tree in the United States is,
of course, with the idea of extracting
gum for commercial purposes. The
supply of trees is yet too limited to try
the experiment on commercial scale.
The japanese method of extracting the
gum from the wood has been described
briefly as follows: After tree is felled
it is cut up into chips, which are laid in
tub or large iron pot, partially filled
with water and placed over slow fire.
Through holes in the bottom of the tub
steam slowly rises, and, heating the
chips, generates oil aud camphor. From
the close-ttting cover over the tub, a
bamboo pipe leads to a succession of
other tubs with bamboo connections, and
the last of these tubs is divided into two
compartments, one above the other, the
dividing floor being perforated with
small holes to ALLOW the water aud the
oil TO pass to the lever compartment.
The other compartment is supplied with |
a straw layer, which catches and holds |
the camphor in crystal in deposit as it |
passes to the cooling process. The
is then separated from the |
straw, and packed in wooden tubs. This
IS said to be a slow and wastefu method,
and, if only to show American enterprise
and ingenuity, we might mention that,
last year improved machinery for distill- !
ing camphor was shipped from Pitts
burgh to Hiogo, Japan.
The Department of Agriculture will
soon have several thousand plants to
among individuals who reside
in regions where the trees are likely 20
flourish, and who may apply for them.
Persons who desire to have these orna-
mental and useful trees would do well TO
with the Department, aud
o receive the suggestions of experts on
h matter.-New York Independent.