Science: More Castor Oil

In the scientific farm search for critical materials, castor beans will be a major U.S. crop in 1943, with 750,000 acres planted. The U.S. Department of Agriculture should have 4,000,000 Ib. of seed beans ready for distribution, harvested this year from 8,000 acres in eight states.

With this program U.S. castor oil production should top 150,000,000 Ib. in 1943, equal to the average pre-war annual importation, but not enough to meet increased needs.

Dehydrated castor oil is the best available substitute for tung oil, formerly imported from China for use in inks, paint, varnish, linoleum, lubricants, etc. But” U.S. tung production is growing too. Orchards of tung-nut trees now cover 250,000 acres, scattered from South Carolina to Texas (most are in Mississippi). They have produced 5,000,000 Ib. of oil a year, may double that figure in 1942. But the trees do not produce until after their fourth year, so no quick increase is possible. At least 150,000,000 lb. yearly are needed.

Thus the castor bean will flourish from Illinois and Indiana to Texas, at least until the China trade is restored. The Rio Grande Valley of Texas has already jumped into production on the basis of four crops per year on each farm. The first commercial castor-oil crushing plant went into operation at Brownsville last spring, ready to process a million pounds of oil this year.