TUNG OIL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 979, 23 May 1930, Page 13

TUNG OIL

NEW INDUSTRY FOR NORTH AUCKLAND PROFITABLE PRODUCT Less than two decades ago Tung Oil and its preparation was a mystery known only to the Chinese. For four centuries the Chinese have cultivated the tung oil tree, and until comparatively recently have kept the secret of tung oil closely guarded. To America alone China exported yearly 15.000,000 dollars worth of oil. It was a secret "worth guarding. Mainly owing to the supply not being equal to the demand and the fact that the Chinese, to increase the supply, took to adulterating the oil, trained chemists and specialists in America investigated the matter and finally succeeded in introducing the tung oil tree to America. By private and confidential experiments conducted in New Zealand it has been discovered that this valuable tree will grow luxuriantly under the climatic conditions prevailing in the Auckland Province. The Tung Oil Company of New Zealand. a New Zealand venture, has already acquired the freehold of 2,300 acres at Kaukapakapa, near Heiensville, and has made substantial progress in planting and seedlings. A total area of about 5,000 acres is expected to be planted within the year, and it is*the company’s intention to cover a similar area yearly, together with the erection and expressing and refining plants for each block. £6O AN ACRE . The tung wood-oil tree is a spreading large-leafed tree, which once a year bears a large round nut. This nut is about an inch and a-half to two inches in diameter, and contains from

three to five seeds. These are very high in oil content, and rich in other chemicals of considerable value - , such as ammonia, etc. From the time of planting the tree takes from four to five years to begin bearing, and reaches maturity at the eighth or tenth year, continuing to bear profitably from 20 to 30 years. Each tree will yield about five oushels of fruit, which translated into acreage and oil represents about 1,300 to 1,800 pounds of tung oil an acre. As the present price for tung oil is about Sd a lb, representing about £6O an acre per year, it is quite easily understood that the tung oil industry is likely to rank high among New Zealand industries.

There are many reasons for the great demand for tung oil. English and Amrican authorities have stated definitely that the supply is not nearly great enough to fuTfil the needs, which are manifold. The oil is the base for a gTOat number of paints and varnishes, lacquers, waterproofs, oilcloths, linoleums, electrical insulation and chemical compounds. Experiments conducted for a considerable period in Auckland and at Kaukapakapa have proved beyond doubt that the tung oil tree grows remarkably well, the nut being very' large and high in oil content. So the new industry has come into being. The Northern gum-lands have been found to be eminently suitable as to soil and climate, and the company anticipates that it will bring in many thousands of acres which have been hitherto useless. The possibility of new scope added to the Northern Auckland farmer must be considered, and this, together with the plants that must be erected and the offshoot industries, may have a stimulating -effect on our present economic position. At all events, the progress ofjthe new venture will be watched w*itlF~considerable interest. The company will plant out approximately 60,000 trees in June and July of this year, and in September 300,000 seeds will be planted in its nurseries. By December, 1931, it is estimated that the company will have at least 5,000 acres planted in tung oil trees.