H.—44

PASSION-FRUIT INDUSTRY. Considerable progress has been made by the above industry during the year, although discouraging results were experienced with the juice that had been put up in lacquered cans during the previous season. Much of this proved unsaleable owing to the chemical action of the juice eating through the lacquer and acting on the tin coating inside the can. The prospects ahead of the industry are now, however, quite promising, due largelv to a new company Pashons Products, Ltd.—that was registered at Christchurch on 15th January, 1934. lhis concern has signed up a large number of the growers at Kerikeri for five years, in order to secure the supply of large quantities of passion fruit. It leased the factory building at Kerikeri, and carried out its undertaking both to purchase and pay for the whole of the passion fruit supplied by the contracting growers this season. The juice is being shipped to London in 1-gallon glass jars, which are very expensive, and also in 10-gallon casks. It is understood that the first shipment of the juice to reach London m the glass jars turned out in good order, but no report has yet been received in regard to the condition of the juice that was shipped in the casks. Passion-fruit juice is being prepared in several ways by some of the best-known firms in the beverage trade in England, and seems to be establishing itself in the public favour. It is being used as an ingredient in a cocktail, as a cordial, as squash, dry, and as natural juice. TUNG-OIL INDUSTRY. The continued financial depression is making it difficult for the plantation companies engaged m this industry to sell their bonds and debentures by means of which the planting of their estates are financed. Ihere are only a few trees in the North Auckland district that have reached four years of age, and some of these have produced several nuts this season. Here and there a three-year-old tree has also borne a few nuts. Generally speaking, the maximum age of these plantations is three years and the majority have not been planted out more than two years. These plantations are spread over a wide range of country, with varying soil characteristics and where shelter has been provided and good cultural treatment given several of the plantations show satisfactory growth. It is, of course, too soon to say what the result will be, as the tree does not usually bear a commercial crop of nuts until its fifth year. The total area planted to tung trees is increasing as follows Number of Acres 1931-32 .. .. in Tung Trees. 1932-33 ;; ;; 2 ; 659 The following is a list of the tung-oil plantation companies in the Dominion : N.Z. Tung Oil Corporation, Ltd., plantation at Kaikohe. Tung Oil Plantations (N.Z.), Ltd., plantation at Kaihu. Northern Tung Oil, Ltd., plantation at Kaingaroa. Parenga (N.Z.) Tung Oil, Ltd., plantation at Parengarenga. Natural Products (N.Z.), Ltd., plantation at Mangawai. Tung Oil Debenture Trust, Ltd., plantation at Warkworth. Tung Oil Securities (N.Z.), Ltd., plantation of Matauri Bay. Australasian Plantations, Ltd., plantation at Kan Kan Peninsula. Empire Tung Oil Products, Ltd., plantation at Bay of Islands. INDUSTRIAL RABBITS. Angora Rabbit Wool. The production of this wool in the Dominion interests a large number of small holders, and the Department continues to receive inquiries from persons who contemplate entering the 'industry Ihe number of rabbit-breeders is steadily increasing, but the Department does not advise any one to take it up with a view to making it their sole means of support. It is an activity that fits in well with market gardening, as the large quantities of waste vegetable matter are economically used in feeding the rabbits. It is not desirable for any one to enter the industry who cannot produce most or all of the food-requirements of the animals on the property. Practical experience has shown that rabbits can be kept solely on green food and hay without any outlay for bought grains or cereal offals. The market for Angora rabbit wool is in the United Kingdom, and a change in requirements has been experienced during the last two seasons. The very fine type of wool is not now in such good demand, but the coarse kind, usually associated with the French breed of rabbit, is called for This wool is worth from 9s. to 18s. per-lb. according to grade, and several firms in the' Dominion are orien to purchase it around these prices for cash. Fur Rabbits. This branch of the industry has made more progress during the past year both by the increase in the number of fur-farmers and the steady improvement in the quality of their stock New foundation stock was received from England less than two years ago, by special permission of the Hon. the Minister of Agriculture, and breeders have by selective mating been able to produce the following new types : Blue-rex, Ermine-rex, Lilac-rex, Black-rex, and Havana-rex.

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