Tung Oil Culture

Success in New Zealand

British Firms

Interested

A RECENT issue of the Auckland (N.Z.) Chamber of Commerce Journal states that in New Zealand the tung oil industry is a new development, which should be very useful to the Dominion.

The cultivation of the tree is bringing poor gum lands into cultivation and is introducing a new and entirely differ ent exportable product of great value.

The pioneer New Zealand company growing the trees has had for two or three years several hundred acres of tung oil trees planted at Kaukapakapa and other companies are starting in other parts of North Auckland.

Experts have stated that the new trees are doing remarkably well and that the conditions in New Zealand are exceptionally favourable.

English varnish makers are inter ested —financially in some cases—in the New Zealand plantations, because of the prospect thus afforded of secur ing a regular supply of high quality oil.

Recently, a letter was received by the pioneer company in New Zealand from a firm in Germany, inquiring if it could purchase an interest in the com pany, so as to be assured of supply.

The trees referred to are no doubt of the Fordil variety. Experiments have been carried out with this tree in various islands of the Pacific, with, so far as is known, mixed results. Ef forts are now being made to get planters to try the Montana variety, as this is considered, by some experts, to be better fitted for tropical culti vation. It seems that Fordii furnishes the better and most sought-for oil, but,

with careful cultivation and prepara tion, the Montana oil might prove just as valuable. Or perhaps, as has been suggested by Mr. E. Cheel, Curator of the National Herbarium, Sydney, the two varieties (Fordii and Montana) might be grafted and thus a very suit able tree for Islands cultivation be obtained.

British buyers are eager to get sup plies of good quality tung oil, pro duced within the Empire, and any efforts made to establish plantations in the Pacific would seem to be well warranted.