Cairo , Georgia 
TUNG OIL TREES 
are Ornamental and Profitable 
ALEURITES FORDII. The Chinese 
tung oil tree was introduced into this 
country from China by the U. S. Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture about 25 years ago. 
It has shown its adaptability to the soil 
and climate of southern Georgia, Alabama, 
Mississippi and Louisiana, and to the 
northern part of Florida. It is valuable for 
its oil which is used in paints, varnishes 
and lacquers, and in a rapidly increasing 
number of commercial products. There is 
a great demand for the oil, millions of 
dollars being paid to China every year 
for it. 
The tree is a rapid and healthy grower. 
It is easily transplanted and begins to 
bear the second or third year after trans¬ 
planting. It comes into profitable bearing 
in four to five years. It is adapted to any 
soil that will produce cotton or corn suc¬ 
cessfully where the temperature does not 
go below 10 to 15 degrees F. As a shade 
tree it is attractive, being a rapid and 
symmetrical grower. 
Owing to the very great demand for the 
oil, the tung oil tree is attacting very wide 
attention in the territory to which it is 
adapted. Hundreds of thousands of trees 
have been set during the last two years. 
It seems destined to become a most important 
addition to the list of our profitable crops. Every 
one who has the land should set at least a few 
of these trees. 
During the last season there have been wonder¬ 
ful developments in the tung oil situation. In 
Grady County, Georgia, alone, of which Cairo is 
the county site. 200,000 trees were set during the 
winters of 1930-33. Other sections are also tak¬ 
ing a strong hold of the situation. Now is the 
time to get in on the “ground floor” with this 
most promising new nut. 
The principal tung oil territory is a strip of 
land lying mainly along the Atlantic Coast of 
The tree shown above set in 1908, has a spread of top 
of 40 feet, and a circumference three feet above the 
ground of G6 inches. It has averaged 200 pounds of 
nuts per year for four years. 
South Carolina and Georgia, and thence along the 
Gulf of Mexico. This favorable strip is about 250 
miles wide, extending from a little south of the 
latitude of Macon, Ga., on the north, to middle 
Florida on the south. The experience of the pres¬ 
ent year goes to show that South Georgia and 
North Florida are especially favorably located 
for the production of tung oil. 
There is no crop that, under present conditions, 
is more promising for a further diversification 
for our farm operations. The crop virtually 
gathers itself, as the nuts will remain without 
deterioration on the ground until other crops are 
gathered, when they may be picked up and 
marketed at leisure. 
Trees that are well cared for 
will at eight to ten years of age 
yield two tons or more of dry 
nuts per acre. These nuts are 
readily salable at from $30.00 
to $50.00 per ton. When the 
easiness and economy with 
which this crop may be pro¬ 
duced is considered, there is 
not a more promising crop 
that can be grown by our land- 
owners. A few trees will en¬ 
able one to test it out; a larger 
number will, in a few years, 
add to the economic independ¬ 
ence of the grower. 
Our trees are the best and 
are well grown from select 
seed of the cluster type. These 
prices are made exceptionally 
low so as to enable every one 
to secure at least a few of 
these trees. 
The following are prices for 
tung oil trees f. o. b. Cairo: 
Tung Oil Nut Orchard 30 months after setting. Trees set 25x25 ft., 
interplanted with peanuts. Photo July, 1932. 
10 
4-6 feet_$1.50 
2-4 feet_ 1.00 
100 1000 
$12.50 $100.00 
8.00 60.00 
We have a limited number of budded tung trees from early bearing and prolific trees 
of the cluster type. These are especially promising. Price 20c each. 
Wight Grown means Grown Right 
