10 Aug., 1918. 



The Castor-Oil Plant. 



505 



Victorian Rainfall — continued. 



THE CASTOR-OIL PLANT AND ITS CULTIVATION. 



Possibility of Establishing the Industry in Australia. 



1. Introduction. — Castor-oil is derived from the seed of the Castor 

 Plant, Eicinus communis, L., which is believed to be a native of North 

 Africa and India. Of this plant, there are numerous varieties which 

 are sometimes regarded as distinct species. 



The Castor Plant is cultivated as a crop in India, Java, Brazil, and 

 the United States, and is grown as an ornamental garden shrub in most 

 of the warmer countries in the world. It is also found as a wild or semi- 

 wild plant in most warm countries, having probably escaped from culti- 

 vation. 



In the tropics, it forms a small tree from 20 to 30 feet or more in 

 height. In warm-temperate climates, it is a shrub 8 to 12 feet high, 

 whilst in localities where frost occurs it is a herbaceous perennial. 

 Under cultivation in temperate climates it is treated as an annual. 



In India, the leaves are used as fodder for cattle, and in Assam they 

 are used for feeding the Eri silkworm. The chief product of the plant is, 

 however, the seed or Castor-bean, from which oil is extracted. 



