1012 : GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 



to examine into and devise new uses for tung oil and its byproducts. 

 Seven of these laboratories and field stations are still operating. 



In 1946, the United States Department of Agriculture noted in its 

 annual summary that "of the 52 principal American crops the tung 

 nut shows the fastest current expansion." This expansion, by the 

 way, from 1943 to 1946 was more than 700 percent, and activities of 

 the Department in fostering the growth of tung were undoubtedly 

 one of the chief contributing factors. 



Few Government reports utilize such glowing language in describ- 

 ing an agricultural enterprise as that used in a release issued on Jan- 

 uary 23, 1948, by the United States Department of Agriculture, Bu- 

 reau of Agricultural Economics, at Gulfport, Miss., in reporting on 

 Mississippi's tung nut harvest from 1939 to 1947 inclusive. 



The report is headed "Mississippi Tung Nuts Bring Cash," and 

 opens with the following paragraph: 



From $19,000 to $2,000,000 in 8 years. That is how the vahie of Mississippi's 

 tung-nut crop has skyrocketed, according to D. .V. McCandliss, statistician in tiie 

 State for the United' States Department of Agriculture. In 1939 the State pro- 

 duced 425 tons of tung nuts, worth at that time $19,000. In 1947 the Mississippi 

 tung-nut crop had climbed to 28,000 tons, worth $2,100,000 at the current aver- 

 age price of $75 per ton. Tung orchards in Mississippi are confined to the south- 

 ern part of the State, near the Gulf of Mexico. The heaviest plantings at present 

 are in Pearl River County. 



During World War II, when the American industry was the sole 

 source of supply of tung oil, the Government ga^e the oil a priority 

 of A2 and commandeered every drop of it for the armed forces and 

 national-defense effort. In order to encourage the expansion of t mg 

 acreage and oil output the United States Department of Agriculture 

 offered Am.eriean tung growers a bonus of $5 per acre to enlarge their 

 tung orchards. 



The activities of the United States Department of Commerce in 

 encouraging the establishment of a tung industry in the United States 

 dates back more than 25 years. Under date of December 17, 1923, in 

 a communication to the Hon. Herbert Hoover, then Secretary of 

 Commerce, Julius Klein, Director of the Department's Bureau of 

 Foreign and Domestic Commerce, noted in his letter of submittal: 



Sir: There is submitted herewith a report on China wood oil. This product 

 is among the essential raw materials wiiich it is necessary for American manu- 

 facturers to purchase from abroad. It is of vital importance to the paint and 

 varnish, the linoleum and oilcloth industries. In consideration of the dependence 

 of this country on loreign sources of supply for this material, it is believed that a 

 complete survey of the actual conditions existent in the producing areas of the 

 principal country of origin will enlighten many consumers as'to the difficulties to 

 be met in the purchase of China wood oil in China, and it is hoped will be of real 

 value to the industries mentioned. 



Klein then discussed the Chinese tung-oil industry in detail, and 

 concluded his remarks with a chapter headed Advantages of Domestic 

 Production. (Remember that he is writing back in 1923.) While 

 there are many details still to be worked out, this infant industry 

 possesses certain advantages, Klein wrote. 



The oil which has been produced from fruit grown domestically has proved to 

 be superior in c|uality to that which is im.ported from China. The market in the 

 United States is continuously growing and is close at hand. 



Modern machinery will be used for the extraction of the oil and operations will- 

 be conducted on a scientific basis. * * * 



Whether or not a successful tung oil producing industry can be permanently 

 established in the United States, that it will be of real value to American paint, 



