Tropical Territories
pp. 47-48 · Read in the full issue
Failure of Tung Oil Culture in Tropical Territories
Letter to the Editor
IN the “Pacific Islands Monthly” of July there is an article on the “Cultivation of Tung Trees” in which my name is mentioned, and I would be glad therefore if you would publish the following in order to correct any wrong impressions regarding the suitability of this tree for low elevations in the humid tropics: During the past few years the tung oil tree (Aleurites Fordii) has been advo cated in many quarters as suitable for cultivation in the tropics, notwithstanding the fact that the climate in its country of origin has a pronounced wintering season.
The tree is indigenous to Central and Western China, thriving on the dry hill sides in the Valley of the Yangtze, where summers are hot and humid, and winters dry, cold and frosty. A kindred species, A. Montana, occurs in the same region but favours the more tropical climate to the south, while A. Fordii dominates in the cooler or northerly climate. That be ing so it can hardly be expected that A.
Fordii would thrive at low elevations a few degrees from the Equator.
However, to test the suitability or otherwise of New Guinea for this plant, ten pounds (10 lbs.) of seeds were ob tained through the favour of Mr. H. C.
Sampson, C.I.E., Economic Botanist of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England.
Two pounds were supplied to a planter whose property is situated at an elevation of 900 to 1000 ft. above sea level in the Kokopo district, and the remaining eight pounds were planted in the Rabaul Bo tanic Gardens and the Demonstration Plantation, Keravat.
The seeds supplied to the private planter did not give satisfactory results, and neither the Secretary of the Planters’
Association nor myself has ever heard of Tung Oil trees having been success fully cultivated in the Kokopo district. I understand there are fifteen (15) trees on a plantation in that district now four (4) years old, but they have not borne any fruit to date.
The seeds sown by the Department of Agriculture in the Botanic Gardens, Ra baul. and Demonstration Plantation, Kera vat, germinated well, but the growth of the plants was most unsatisfactory in deed.
Possibly the plant might thrive in the mountain districts of New Guinea at ele vations of 3000 to 5000 ft., but the experi ments carried out by this Department prove conclusively that the plant is not suited for low elevations in latitudes a few degrees from the Equator.
In the Botanic Gardens, Rabaul, there are three plants of the kindred A. Mon tana which have flowered twice, but have never yet borne any fruit, showing that even this species, which requires more tropical conditions than A. Fordii, is un
suited for the latitude and elevation of Rabaul.
Experiments have been made with Tung Oil (A. Fordii) in other parts of the tropics under the auspices of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and in the report on such work it is stated (Bulletin Miscel laneous Information 1933, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew), as follows: “Tung Oil (Aleurites Fordii). It is now definitely established that this species will not thrive in the moist tropics; though where there are definite dry seasons and the elevation is sufficiently great to alle viate the temperature, the possibilities of this becoming a crop of economic import ance are still being studied.”
I am etc..
George H. Murray.
Director of Agriculture Rabaul, T.N.G. 29/8/’34.
EDITORIAL NOTE.—We are very much obliged to Mr. Murray for this interesting and valuable information. It bears out the contention of this journal over the past three years—namely, that the prolific Fordii variety cannot be expected to produce satisfactorily except under climatic conditions similar to those of Central and Northern China. It is clear that the only place where Fordii might be grown successfully within the tropics is on a high elevation, on a land mass on 4000-5000 feet, on the mainland of New Guinea, for instance. All the information we have had, up
to date, indicates that the trees will grow in the tropics with every appearance of health and strength, but that they will not bear fruit satis factorily, if at all. Even far south, in New Cale donia, that was the experience of those who ex perimented with tung oil.
(Continued overleaf)
WRITING subsequently from Rabaul in reference to Tung oil trees in the Kokopo district, T.N.G., Mr. Murray says that after searching through the files of the P.I.M. he found in the October 1932 issue a photograph of a Tung tree at Kokopo. “This photo,” he writes, “shows a mediocre example of a 20 months’ old Tung tree, but I cannot find any mention in later issues of its having borne fruit.”
Mr. Murray desires further particulars regarding this tree, which is said to have
borne fruit in three years. He requires this information, he says, because “the statement is apt to induce planters to go to unnecessary expense and labour in attempting to cultivate the plant in un suitable districts.” (So far as we can recollect now, the photograph was given to us, with the data referred to, by a resident of Bita Paka. We have not heard anything more about the experiment.—Ed.) Mr. Murray also comments upon the editorial note on the article in October, 1932, wherein we stated “it is possible that the Montana variety from Cochin China, although not such a prolific bearer as the Fordii, will grow satisfactorily in the Pacific Islands.”
“The Aleurites Montana,” writes Mr, Murray, “does not produce Tung oil, but oil of different characteristics and much less value.”