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ed) at distances of two feet on rows four feet apart. Sowing 

 one seed at each stake, three or four pounds of seeds would be 

 -sufficient for one acre; but it is as well to provide for failures by 

 sowing two or three seeds four inches apart to each stake, and thin- 

 ning out one month after germination, in which case seven pounds 

 will suffice for one acre. This quantity will allow for selection of 

 the best seed^, i.e. those showing the whitest and best developed 

 '• caruncle," or the fleshy out-growth near the hilum. The seeds in 

 which, after steeping in water, this out-growth is found shrunken or 

 discoloured, should be rejected. 



Ricinu.s breeds true ; cases of cross fertilisation being very rare. 



The seeds of i^erennial varieties are usually sown at distances 

 of 6 feet each way ; but in the case of large, branching plants, wider 

 spacing is perhaps advisable, as it is s^aid that imder a plentiful 

 supply of air, the yield of seed is \ery largely increased, as 

 much as 20 pounds of seed being recorded from vigorous plants 

 under such conditions. Distances of 10 feet each "way would pro- 

 bably meet the case, which would give 400 plants to the acre, neces- 

 sitating less than twip pounds of seeds. The writer has not had 

 occasion, so far, to adopt such wide-planting, but the crops one 

 occasionally sees on isolated trees, point to its reasonableness 



The C'astoT-seedling bears transplantation badly ; the seeds are 

 therefore always planted straight away in the fields. But the 

 writer found that, from a cause not yet ascertained (probably the 

 presence of eel-worm in the soil) a proportion of as much as ten 

 per cent of his plants died in the second month. Such infected 

 soils should not be planted with Ricinus; l)ut sliould the <liscovery 

 be made too late, it is advisable to have a number of seedlings apart 

 in bamlx)o baskets to fill the vacancies after creosoting the earth 

 at the epot. 



As previously stated, the ground must be brought to a fine 

 state of tilth by a preliminary digging to a depth of 8 to 10 inches, 

 followed by a harrowing or raking. The longer the land is allow- 

 ed to lie broken and exposed to the air before sowing the better; 

 as it gives a chaiice to the sun and the birds TOmbined. to destroy 

 the maggots and grults, which, later on, in the shape of caterpillars, 

 will, if the land remains foul, almost surely attack the plants, and, 

 possibly, cause extensive damage by stripping them of their leaves. 

 The writer has seen a han/dsome tree, 13 feet high, completely de- 

 foliated in a few days by a small black and red striped caterpillar. 

 When the tree was shaken, myriads of the caterpillars fell to the 

 ground. The Castor-seed caterpillar, Dichocrocis puncfifernUs, 

 which bores its way into the seeds is also a dangerous pest. 



Although 'Castor-seeds preserve their germinative power a very 

 long time if protected from damage by insects, immersion in 

 water for a few hours is "not a useless precaution as it softens them 

 and facilitates germination. A preliminary short steeping in an 

 insecticide solution such as a weak solution of copper sulphate, 

 just strong enough io give the water a faint bluish tint, or in a 

 maceration of tuba root, mav also do much good. 



