The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-12-02

among the camphor trees for the erro
: ton OF still, the former proceeds {.
run up shed or rough building, tn,
size OF which depends upon the numbel
, OF stoves it is intended to contain. L
! ten are to be erected the building
would be twenty feet long by twelve
! or thirteen feet broad In the cente,
OF the floor an oblong structure, some
J four feet high, ten feet long and six
feet broad, is built of sun-dried mud
bricks, having five freplaces or holes
at each side raised foot or SO above
the floor of the room.
The two ends of the structure arc
solid, and without fireplaces. The
latter are so built that an earthenwara
pot can easily be inserted above tho
fire in each hole. An earthenware
cylinder connects the mouth of each
pot with the surface of each structure.
or still, as it may more conveniently be
called. Between the pot and the lower
end OF the cylinder there is a round.
thin piece of wood fitting both the
mouth of the pot and the lower end Of
the cylinder, and perforated SO as to
allow the steam from the water in
the pot to pass into the cylinder
during distillation. The top of each
cylinder is usually about a foot in d;-
ameter' and is level with the surface
OF the still Such still would present
TO the eye mud structure, with ten
round holes on the top and five fire.
places at each of the two longest sides.
10 complete it, however, ten large
earthenware jars are required. These
during the process of distillation are
placed, inverted, on the top of the still |
over the upper ends of the
cylinders, SO as to form the condensers.
To prevent the escape of steam from
the condensers bands of lutte are fitted
nrmiy between their mouths and the
top of the still.
suppose, then, there is a heap of
'amphorwood chips at hand from
which it is required to extract the cam
'hor. The pots are filled with water r
md the cylinders with chips; the lars
ire IN position on the top of the still.
md the firewood is lighted under the
'ots- When the water boils the steam
'asses up through the perforated wood ,
nto the cylinders, heats and moistens
ne chips and ascends to the con-
ensers, carrying with it the camphor
ames which the chips have given :
orth. The steam then condenses on !
ne inside of the jars, and when tho :
liter are removed a layer of white =
amphor crystals is found adherinr to
lem. This is brushed off by hand and !
laced in baskets.
Inc chips are then Withdrawn from 4
lie cylinders, fresh chips take their
ace, water is added to the pots :.
le condensers are again placed in :;
osition, additional firewood is thrown 4
to the treplaces and the work OF dis h
llation rebegins. :,
The camphor laurel attains an enor- ~
Gus height and girth in Formosa. h
lere is to be seen horizontal section :;
a stem which was at least six feet in
ameter, and which at one time formed o.;
entrance to the house of a savage 4,
lei. The doorway is cut out of the -
;tion. 1t is now trophy belonging =,
a missionary and has to be accom-. =,
'dated on the veranda of his house. r.,
ich difficulty is experienced by the 8,
linen in telling these forest giants. ar
recourse is frequently had to firinr n
as to expedite their work. Ouanti. q,
OF valuable timber are thus con. a.;
ned, and as no trouble is taken ia foI
mt young trees the day will come r.
en such waste will be regretted. vi
e tree once felled, the branches are
moved and the trunks sawn up into nj,
INKS. Branches and planks are then Re
upon by number of men, each Of
ned with small scoop-shaped adze. tre
ry stroke of which removes a chin IN
nut an inch long. In time the giant .ec
educed to heap of chips, which are me
ated for their camphor as described em
extract remains a grayish-white mo
1der which, unlike the camphor
duced in Japan, does not solidify aaa
er pressure. A ready market Is G.,
ad for Fornosan camphor, which is Str st..
important Ingredient in smokeless st- e.
der.-N. Y. Tribune. e~s