HAWAII KXTEKIMKNT STATION. 405 



Tropics. Thero are many specimens all tln-()iiij;h these islands at 

 elevations from seacoast to 3,000 feet ^vhicli have attained the heif^ht 

 of 30 feet or more, witli a trunk diameter of sometimes more than 20 

 inches. It is certain that its introduction into the islands dates hack 

 almost to the time of the arrival of the first missionaries. Consider- 

 al)le exp(M-imtMitin<;- has been done with this crop for the production 

 of the seeds both for export and for the local manufacture of the oil. 

 There are already in operation two plantations which total an area of 

 ui)ward of lOO acres, and within the last six months of the fiscal 3'ear 

 these j)lantinus ha\ c hceii \(MV laroel}^ increased and many plantations 

 on other islands are enoaoino- in a small way in the cultivation of this 

 crop, with a view to increasin*^- their acreage shoidd the present favor- 

 a))le prices for the l)eans maintain. There is a ready market for the 

 castor beans in Honolulu, or the}' maj' be packed and shii^ped to the 

 San l-'iancisco or Eastern markets. The crop practically retjuires no 

 manipulation to produce a finished })roduct,ditferino- in this regard from 

 most tropical products which reipiire various })rocesses of fermenta- 

 tion. The method of plantine- diliers somewhat from that- in vogue 

 in other countries where the castor bean grows. The seed is planted 

 where it is to remain on land which has been thoroughly and deeply 

 plowed. The rows are made from 20 to 24 feet apart and the castor- 

 bean trees are allowed to grow 15 feet apart in the rows. As soon as the 

 plants are 2 feet high t hv terminal bud is nipped otf, forcing the produc- 

 tion of latei'al shoots. These in turn are nip})ed to compid the tree to 

 t)rancli as nuicli as possible. l\v this method of treatment a very broadly 

 P3'ramidal gi'owth is produced, with very nmch greater bearing sur- 

 face than if the tree were permitted to establish an upright form. 

 Anothei- advantage of this style of pruning is that the clusters of seed 

 pods are kept within easy reach of the lal)()rer who picks them. The 

 ground between the rows is kept in a good state of cultivation. For 

 the lirst year at least, or until the lateral branches of the castor-bean 

 plants have ext(mded so as to till the rows, an intermediate croj), such 

 as sweet potatoes or corn, may ])e cultivated lu'twiMMi the rows. The 

 average yield, judging from those plantations which are now in l>ear- 

 ing, ranges from 2,500 to 3,000 pounds of seed per acre per amnim. 

 The drawbacks connected with the cultivation oi this crop are chiefly the 

 fact that there is no general harvest season, but the seed must ]}v picked 

 at fre(iuent intervals throughout the 3'ear. On a small i)lantati()n this 

 item of expiMise would be \ery serious, but on i)lantations of any con- 

 siderable size it would not hiivi^ to be considered. The castor bean is 

 a crop which at the present time has very few enemies in this countr}'. 

 The i)lanf grows wild from sea elevation to the elevation of 3,000 feet 

 or more, and the best <»il-)»('aring \arieties thri\'e e(|ually as well as 

 the wild forms. It is a crop which seems to be well suited to small 

 landholders. 



