144 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



re(|iiired for the lubrication of aircraft engines during the first two 

 years of the war, while the available supply in this country was 

 inadequate. 



In September, 1917, the Secretary of War appointed a castor-oil 

 production board to investigate the situation and to determine how 

 tlie necessary supply of oil might be secured. This board comprised 

 representatives of the Aviation Section of the United States Sig- 

 nal Corps, the Bureau of Plant Industry of the United States 

 Department of Agriculture, the Export Bureau of the War Trade 

 Board, and civilian experts. After the board had made its report 

 the Signal Corps decided to contract for the planting of approxi- 

 mately 100,000 acres of castor beans in the southern part of the United 

 States. Accordingly, castor beans were extensively phmted in the 

 following States: South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mis- 

 sissippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and California, 



Planting was encouraged in the more southerly States for several 

 reasons. Labor conditions in those States appeared to be more favor- 

 able than in those fartlier north, and it was believed that castor 

 beans might to some extent replace cotton on lands where the ravages 

 of the boll weevil had made the latter crop uncertain. Also, the 

 planting of castor beans in the extreme South was expected to inter- 

 fere least with the production of certain staple food crops. 



A serious problem encountered early was that of securing a supply 

 of seed sufficient to plant the large acreage decided upon. There 

 was practically no visible supply of domestic seed, since the importa- 

 tion of low-priced castor beans from India prior to the war had 

 practically destroyed an industry which once flourished in the States 

 of Kansas, Missouri. Oklahoma, and Illinois. Since large stocks of 

 castor beans grown for commercial use were known to exist in India, 

 that countr}^ appeared to be the logical source from which to obtain 

 the seed for planting. 



The seed as received from India was found to be a mixture of sev- 

 eral cultural varieties or types, and plans were accordingly made for 

 a careful field study of these types during the crop season and for 

 the selection of seed from the most desirable types for planting a 

 crop next year, should this be necessary. 



Since the castor-bean acreage was widely scattered over a number 

 of States, many planters could not be reached in time to advise them 

 regarding the selection of suitable soil and the methods of plant- 

 ing. As a result many plantings were made on soil which was too 

 poor or too deficient in moisture for this crop. This condition was 

 further aggravated by the wide circulation among farmers of base- 

 less reports that the castor-bean plant would thrive well on the poor- 

 est soils and that it was practically immune from depredations of 

 insects and attacks of plant diseases. Indeed, in some sections the 

 planting of castor beans was actually discouraged by the circulation 

 of reports that castor beans would ruin the soil for future crop 

 purposes, that the plants were poisonous and would cause epidemics 

 of disease, that the whole castor-bean program was German propa- 

 ganda, etc. Notwithstanding the obstacles encountered, a large acre- 

 age was planted under favorable conditions and promises to yield a 

 satisfactory crop. 



Thus far during the growing season the crop has suffered some 

 damage from various crop pests. Over a small area in Florida the 



