Enclosures
281
COPY.
W: 13.
14022
A
Rent 7 MAY 00:
Botanical and Afforestation Department.
HongKong, 24th.March, 1900.
Sir,
With a view to assist in obtaining
data to arrive at some conclusion in regard to the
possibilities of establishing camphor tree cultivation in
the New Territory which might be commercially successful
I have had a still constructed and during the last few
days have obtained by distillation good samples of crude
camphor and camphor oil from the leaves, branches, trunks
and roots of HongKong grown trees which were planted
about 12 years ago. I find that much more camphor is
produced by the branches and twiggs than by the trunks,
and that a fair quantity is obtainable from the leaves.
This is of considerable importance, as if the products
are in payable quantities, camphor might possibly be
obtained by lopping the branches only every few years
instead of destroying the trees as is the usual custom
in Formosa and China.
From enquires I have made it appears
these samples cannot be refined here, I therefore have
the honour to suggest that I should be allowed to take
the samples home with me and get them refined and their
values ascertained in England. I de net anticipate that
the costs would be but trifling, and, if His Excellency
the Governor approved, the Colonial Office might perhaps
be advised to allow me to send in the bill for payment
by the Crown Agents.
I
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