Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-02-04

scsscs Il soft silky texture. It has the
property of resisting the ravagcs OF
insects and its aromatic odor enhances
its value for receptacles for clothes.
The camphor of commerce is pro
duced by several different species OF
trees. chief among which is Cinnamo
mum camphora, native Of Eastern
Asia. This may be regarded as the
true camphor tree 1t is a handsome,
ornamental evergreen which reaches
height of over one hundred feet. ana
is cultivated in Ceylon, india, Austria.
liza. Florida and California.
Another though less known camphoI
yielding tree is the Sumatra variety,
which produces what is known as Ma
lay camphor. The crystals are found
In clusters under the bark and In ifs.
surcs In the heart of the tree. In or.
der to obtain 1t. the trees are destroy
ed by the natives who procure up
wards of ten pounds from an old tree
Formosa camphor has hitherto been
shipped to Chinese ports, from whence
II was re.shipped to Europe and Amer
lea. For this reason II Is more gener
ally known as Chinese camphor. II Is
procured by a crude process of distil'
lation. billets of the wood being boilel
in water In large containers. II
reaches the market In an impure and
moist condition in lead chests, each
containing about $50 pounds.
japanese camphor generally reaches
the market in Batavia. which gives Il
the name of Dutch camphor 1t is gem
orally Of larger grain than the Chinese
camphor. dry and Of light pink color
1t is packed In tills containing abou,
1875 pounds each and Is also known a:
tub camphor.
The process of refining was long
kept secret and was for long time q
monopoly of Venice. II is now well
known and Is carried ON In many large
cities. The method as have seen u
conducted In London Is as follows:
The camphor Is first broken up and
about 3 per cent. of slaked lime and :
per cent. Of iron filings being added, is
placed In glass TASKS imbedded in
sand. These are then gently heated
| for "a hours. The TASKS are then cork.
ed up and the sand Is removed from
| the upper half of the TASKS, where 1t
condenses In pure white crystals. The
| TASKS are finally broken and the cam
phor is removed in bells about twelve
inches across. The cultivation of the
,amphor tree Is attracting considerable
to flourish readily. As the leaves end
| young trees are rich In camphor the
DAYS of total destruction of the tree
ARE practically past, and certainly nc
| plantation now planted could be con
Quoted In this wasteful manner. In
experiments conducted on a small
scale a. pounds of clippings have been
obtained per tree. AS each tree may
he clipped four times a year this givcs
n total annual yield of 1888 pounds per
tree. Planted twelve feet apart over
10000 pounds Of green clippings would
lie obtained from each acre. The yield
OF camphor from fresh leaves Is about
liz per cent, giving n return Of IL
pounds per acre. Taken at value OF
so cents per pound the annual crop pc,
acre would be worth about 1915. II
Is estimated that the cost of planting
wedding, distillation and fuel would h,
about SIS, giving a net return per acr,
0f 5000. The present price of camphOl
Is now In excess of that on which
these figures are based and as tho
uses of this article are increasing an;
the supply tending to diminish. tn,
price to he obtained In the futur,
should he still more. However, takini
the moderate price of our estimate
adding Onc.third more tn the cost %
labor and reducing the prospective 70
turn. a net return of about $3.50 shout
be secured. on a small plantation o
five acres n venture well within Thu
reach Of almost everyone here present
an income Of nearly one thousand dol
lars per annum should be secured II
about four years.