The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-01-01
'CAMPHOR TREE CULTURE
INTERESTING CIRCULAR ISSUED BY
THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.

sreat Importance of tho Product-POssi-
bilities of Growth OF the Evergreen in
Southern Sections Of the United States
Its Many Uses.
One of the most recent additions to
The literature issued by the depart
| nent of agriculture is a circular de-
'criptive of the camphor tree. 1t is
'eferred to as broad-leaf evergreen,
.elated to the red bay and sassafras of
he United States. In its native hab-
tat it obtains height of sixty to one
hundred feet, with widespreading
branches and trunk twenty to forty
inches in diameter.
The tree is native in the coast coun-
ries of eastern Asia from Cochin
China nearly to the mouth of the
Yang-tse-Kiang, and on the adjacent
stands, from the southern part of the
Japanese empire, including Formosa,
lnder the Ryukyu Islands to Hainan,
IF the Cochin China coast. The
rees grow wild in the native range,
ind are usually most abundant on the
aillsides and in mountain valleys,
where there is good atmospheric as
we'll as soil drainage. The tempera-
iure in the greater part of this region,
which is partly within the tropics and
partly subtropical, rarely falls below
reezing. The trees and evergreen
:hange their leaves generally in April,
md therefore the winter temperature
s of far more importance than would
,e the case with deciduous tree. 1t
pears small, greenish white flowers,
rom February to April, and, the fol-
owing October, very light one-seeded
ruits about three-eighths of an inch
n diameter.
At Charleston, Summerville and
Augusta the trees have withstood a
minimum temperature of Is degrees
Fahrenheit, but they have been pro-
ected by surrounding trees and
buildings.
The most northern localities in the
| United States, so far as known by the
department., where the camphor tree
las been successfully grown out OF
loors, are Charleston and Summer
rille, S. c.; Augusta, Ga, and Oak
and, Cal. Notwithstanding the COM
,aratively narrow limits of its natural
environment, the camphor tree grows
veil in cultivation under widely diff
erent conditions. 1t has become
lbundantly naturalized in Madagascar.
t flourishes at Buenos Ayres. 1t
hrives in Egypt, in the Canary Is
ands, in southeastern France and in
he San joaquin valley in California,
where the summers are hot and dry.
While the camphor tree will grow
IN almost any soil that is not too wet,
{ does best on a well drained sandy
r loamy soil, and it responds re-
narkable we'll to the application of
ertilizers. Its growth is compare
lively slow on sterile soils, but under
avorable conditions it sometimes
crows very rapidly. Under favorable
conditions an average of thirty feet
n height, with trunks six to eight
inches in diameter at the base, may
,e expected in trees ten years from
he seed.
The principal commercial uses of
he camphor tree are for the produc-
ion of camphor gum and camphor
Ill. Camphor gum is employed ex-
ensively in medicine. 1t enters into
he composition of many kinds of
iniments for external application.
Tor liniment it is used especially in
combination with olive oil. It is taken
Internally for hysteria, nervousness,
nervous headaches and diseases af-
Getting the alimentary canal. 1t is q
,pecifc in cases of typhoid fever and
.holera. Camphor fumes have been
Used with success in cases of asthma.
t has been used very extensively to
Keep insects out of furs, woolens,
,tc. In Japan camphor and camphor
Ill are used in lacquer work. The oil
8 somewhat similar to turpentine,
md could doubtless be used to adj
,antage in varnishes and shellacs. It
s now used in the manufacture of
oilet soaps. In Japan and China it
las been used for illuminating pur-
poses, but it produces a smoky flame.
Among the secondary uses of the
.amphor tree the most important is
or ornamental planting. Its bright
evergreen leaves, rapid growth and
ong life make it valuable for this
purpose. In Japan and China it has
been the principal tree planted in the
emple courts for many centuries,
md in these. countries it takes the
place of the historic oaks of England.
It has been extensively introduced
INTO Southern Europe and South
America for ornamental purposes.
The wood, with its close grain, yell
'ow color and susceptibility to polish,
.aking kind of satin-like finish, is
exceedingly valuable in cabinet work,
especially for making drawers, chests
md cupboards proof against insects.
The leaves and young branches, al
though they have but a slight odor of
,amphor, are packed with clothing or
scattered about unused rooms to
guard against insects.
The tree produces an abundance of
oerry-like fruits, which are used in
Japan and China to make kind of
ALLOW. The fruits are greedily eaten