286 



has been limed, Avould give from 2,000 to 2,500 pounds of pode 

 per acre. This is equivalent, at the ratio of 65% of their weight, 

 in Kernels, to 1,300 — 1,625 pounds of shelled Kernels with an oil- 

 content, from an ordinary oountry-mill, of 30% to 40% or say 35%, 

 i.e. a final output of 450 to 560 poimdvs of oil per acre. In addi- 

 tion there is the very valuable oil-cake which can be used either as 

 cattle food, or as manure, as it contains as much as 8% of nitrogen. 



Although it is generally ])oor husliandiT to grow the same crop 

 twice successively in the same ground, the practice can be, and is 

 largely, followed in India without harm, in the case of groundnut, 

 provided the land receives between the two crops, a moderate dress- 

 ing of lime and ashes. It is therefore quite feasible to obtain two 

 crops in the course of one year, resulting in an output of 2,600 to 

 3,250 pounds of Kernels per acre or 900 to 1,120 pounds of oil and 

 from 1,200 to 1,450 lbs. of cake, dry. 



Followed by Gingelly (Seminian indicum) which does exceed- 

 ingly well after groundnut, a further crop of oil-seed would be 

 obtained which could be treated for oil by the -same extracting ap- 

 pliances as used for Castor-seed. 



A last crop of sweet-pota.toes c«uld be put in, sis in digging 

 up the roots, a thorough breaking up and pulverizing of the soil 

 takes place, which will make easy the preparatifon of the land for a 

 new crop of Ricinus. 



Manuring will be necessary at this stage. Manures are scarce 

 and expensive — but in this case, they will cost nothing more than 

 the cost of application; for the stock of groundnut and sesamum- 

 cake will amply suffice for the requirements of the land in nitrogen ; 

 the deficiencies in potash and phosphoric acid (of which groundnut 

 cake contains 1.2%) being made up by an addition of ashes from 

 the stems of the Castor-tree itself and other refuse (shells and 

 husks) and, if necessary, a modicum of bone meal. Nor must we 

 lose sight of the Castor-pommace saved from the original crop, 

 which is one of the best vegetable maniires known — Castor-cake 

 containing 5^ to 6% of nitrogen. 



Ill Februarv 191>S the price of the cake in London was £37 

 per ton, i.e. nearly A pence per pound. Considering that, by reason 

 of its poisonous content. Castor-cake cannot be given to cattle for 

 food, this price gives an idea of its high manurial value. 



As a .matter of fact, although the Castor-oil plant is considered 

 to he fill exhausting cro)), it need not, under a careful system of 

 husbandry, leave the land impoverislied. 



Vnv. taking tlic plant as it stands, all of the ]ilant food which 

 has l;(i!1" Io furni the roots, stems, leaves and seeds with their cap- 

 sules and husks, can lie restored to the land in the form of ashes, 

 or better still, after ])assing through a chaif cutter or a root-cutter, 

 in the form of a comiiost. so that no'thing, except the oil, need leave 

 the farm. 



Now, Castor-oil, like other stable oils, contains only such ele- 

 ments earhon, o.ri/t/cn and hi/drogen as are drawn from the air, and 

 by the sair n\' it. the land loses none of its 'fertilising agents. 



