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ALEURITES FORDII. FRUIT OF THE CHINESE WOOD-OIL TREE. 
The Chinese wood-oil tree or "tungshu," is a native of the 
central and southern provinces of China up to 34° north lati- 
tude. In this country it is growing and bearing in the Gulf 
States and in California and has withstood temperatures ranging 
from 16° to 114° F. It is also quite drought-resistant. The 
tree averages 20 feet in height and bears large white flowers 
in early spring before the appearance of the leaves, which are 
large, ovate and hairy beneath. The fruit, which in China is 
harvested in October, is the size of a large apple, with a soft 
green skin, and contains usually five seeds the size and shape 
of a small rounded Brazil nut. These seeds yield about 25 per 
cent of one of the quickest drying and hardest oils known. It 
is more waterproof than linseed oil, but less elastic. In its 
physiological effects it strongly resembles castor-oil. As 
this oil on account of the revolution in China is now bringing 
about 12 cents per pound, or nearly one dollar per gallon, and 
is normally worth probably 60 cents per gallon, and as the 
United States imported during the fiscal year 1910-1911 about 
5,000,000 gallons, there is every prospect of a steady market 
for any quantity we can produce. Photograph natural size from 
specimens from a tree (S. P. I. No. 21013) sent Mr. A. R. 
Hopkins, Biloxi, Miss, in 1908. 
