The Northern Advocate “NORTHLAND FIRST" Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1942. Can Northland Grow Tung?

Northern Advocate, 11 June 1942, Page 2

The Northern Advocate “NORTHLAND FIRST" Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1942. Can Northland Grow Tung?

SOME years ago Northlanders heard a good deal about tung oil. A large amount of money was invested by enterprising men, who realised that it tung trees could be giown successfully in Northland, the climate and soil of which were believed to be well suited for the purpose, a valuable souice oi Northland revenue would be created and the Empire’s needs served by the provision of a commodity urgently lequiied. As is frequently the case with a pioneer venture, the experiment did not prove as successful as was hoped, but there was given evidence that if advantage were taken of experience gained, some portions of Northland will grow tung trees successfully. This view was not taken by a departmental investigator, who condemned the tung venture, but his report did not receive universal support, and there is still a body of opinion that further investigation and experiment should be made. _ In view of the Rehabilitation Board’s intention to place soldiers on farms in Northland, it would seem that the Government might well make use oi Dr. Li, a distinguished Chinese horticulturist, who, a refugee from his homeland, is now working for the Department of Industrial and Scientific Research. Dr. Lx visited Whangarei recently in pursuance of his duties, and told the “Advocate” that he had been surprised at the types of soil and vegetation in New Zealand. He had not been able to give any attention to citrus fruit in Northland, but he hoped the opportunity for study would occur. We have no doubt that Dr. Li is well qualified to give advice as to the suitability of Northland for the growing of tung trees and to indicate localities where success might be expected. If this information were avadable, it would help the Government s rehabilitation of soldiers’ scheme, for the growing of a few tung trees on a small farm, if the soil and other conditions were favourable, would make a useful sideline for the soldier farmer. China is the borne of the tung tree, which has produced great wealth for that country, but efforts are being made to develop the industry In the United States along the Gulf Coast from Florida into Texas, where there are nearly 200,000 scattered acres of tung plantations out of 750,000 acres believed to be suitable for the culture. It is admitted that the tung tree is hard to grow in the United States, as it needs a minimum of five days and a maximum of fifteen days of freezing weather, virgin, acid soil, good drainage and a hillside location. The freezing conditions are not to be looked for in Northland, but trees grown in this territory have shown that they can be grown satisfactorily despite the lack. Is Northland less satisfactorily placed than the American seaboard ?

Tung oil, obtained from nuts grown on the tung tree, is claimed to have no substitute, not even soya bean, castor or other oils. The versatile tung provides the fastest vegetable oil paint and varnish dryer, gives to paints a tough, elastic, heat-resisting surface, waterproofs paints and varnishes, printing inks, electrical insulation, brake bands and-linoleums.

The desire of the United States to develop the tung industry may be gathered from the fact that its annual consumption of tung oil is well over 100 million pounds. This suggests that if, as some people believe, Northland will grow tung trees, providing the best use is made of nature’s bounty, the matter should be given consideration. This has led us to suggest that the Government should take advantage of the presence of Dr. Li to investigate the question and report the result of his investigations.