Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-02
THE CAMPHOR TREE
Descriptive Circular Issued by De-
partment Of Agriculture.
GREAT IMPORTANCE OF THE PRODUCT
Possibilities of Growth of the Ever
green in the United States.
IMPORTATIONS OF THE GUN

One of the most recent additions to the
literature issued by the Department of
Agriculture is circular descriptive of
the oamphor tree. II is referred TO a
brcad-leaf evergreen, related TO the red
bay and sassafras of the United States.
In its native habitat it obtains a height
of sixty to one hundred feet. with wide
spreading branches and a trunk twenty
to forty inches in diameter.
1t may be well to give this description of
how the c1mphor is grown. it is not
generally understood by the public. Some
time ago Il discussion the subject arose
in certain household. Some of those
present maintained that the camphor was
Il mineral substance. Others inclined to
the theory that it was plant, while still
others maintained that it was taken from
some animal The question was definitely
settled, however. by little girl, who had
been listening attentively TO the conversa-
ton. and said in response to question,
as to where the clmphor grew why
in the drug store. of course"
Grown In Asia.
The tree is native in the coast coun-
tries of eastern Asia from Cochin China
nearly to the mouth of the Yang-tse-
Kiang, and on the adjacent islands, from
the southern part of the Japanese empire.
including Formosa, under the Ryukyu
Islands, to Hainan. off the Cochin China
coast. The trees grow wild in the native
range and are usually most abundant on
the hillsides and in mountain valleys,
where there is good atmospheric as well
as soil drainage The temperature in the
greater part of this region, which is partly
within the tropics and partly subtropical
rarely falls below freezing. The trees
and evergreen change their leaves gen.
he ha int
temperature is of far more Importance than
would be the case with a deciGuous tree.
IT bears small. greenish white flowers, from
February TO April, and. the following Oc-
tober, very light one-seeded fruits about
tnree-eiShthS of inch in diameter
At Charleston. Summervile and Augusta
the trees have withstood minimum tenn
Ierature OF Il degrees Fahrenheit. but they
have been protected by surrounding trees
and buildings.
The American Possibilities.
The most northern localities in the
United States. so far as known by the de-
partment. where the camphor tree has been
successfully grown out of doors are
charleston and Summerville, S. c.; Angus
Ia, Ga, and Oakland. Cal. Notwithstand-
ing the comparatively narrow limits of its
natural environment the camphor tree
grows We'll in cultivation under widely off
derthl conditlons 1t has become abu1-
II
lshes at Buenos Ayres 1t thrives in
Egypt In the Canary Islands. in south
eastern France and in the San JOAQUIN
valley in California, where the summers
are hot and dry Large trees at Isss,
y" years old, are growing in the temnle
courts at Toxic. where they are subiect
70 winter of seventy-five to eighty
nights of frost. with an occasional mini
mum temperature as low as ~ 10 1c a.
Srees. Fahrenheit "
W., Ine Ihe camphor tree will grow On al
nloSi any soil that is not too wet. it does
pest on a well-drained sandy or Ioamv soil
ana II responds remarkably we'll 10 tho ~
Phcation OF fertilizers. Its growth is com
PdrduEely slow on sterile soils bur ,nder
,. arursole conditions it sometimes grows
very rapidly An instance is recorded of a
cdnlphor tree in Italy a foot in dia meter
ana ninety feet high. eight years from the.
seed nder ordinary conditions however
go q grin Is not often attained in less
IMAM twenty-five years, and such a height
Is rarely attained in century Under IA
Eorabie conditions average of thirty
itet III height. with trunks six to eight
Inc mes IN diameter at the base NAV be ex
pected In trees ten years from the seed
Commercial Uses.
ihe principal commercial uses Of the
camphor tree are for the production of
cannphor gum and camphor oil. Camphor
gum Is employed extensively in medicine.
II enters into the composition of MANY
For hniment it is used especially in COM
bination with olive oil. 1t is taken inter-
naiy Tor hysteria, nervousness, nervous
headaches. diarrhea and diseases affecting
the allmentary canal. 1t is a specific in
cases Of typhoid fever and cholera Cam
pnor fumes have been used with success in
cases OF asthma. 1t has been used very ex-
tehsiVeiy 10 keep insects out of furs
woolens. etc. In Japan camphor and cam
phor oil are used in lacquer work The oil
Is somewhat similar to turpentine. and
could doubtless be used to advantage in
varnishes and shellacs. II is now used in
the manufacture of toilet soaps In Japan
ana emma II has been used for illuminating
purposes, but it produces a smoky flame
Among the secondary uses of the cam
phor tree the most important is for orna-
mental planting. Its bright evergreen
leaves. rapid growth and long life make il
valuable for this purpose In Japan and
China II has beer the principal tree planted
In the temple courts for many centuries
and in those countries 1t takes the place of
the historic oaks of England. 1t has been