Ricinus 



RICINUS 



Castor-oil Plant. Half-hardy annual 



ALTHOUGH this plant flowers freely, it is grown in the sub-tropical 

 garden principally for its noble ornamental foliage, and also in the 

 shrubbery border, either alone or in conjunction with other fine 

 subjects, such as Canna, Solanum, Tobacco, and Wigandia. 



To have plants ready for making a show in early summer they 

 must be raised as half-hardy annuals in February or March. From 

 the commencement a rich soil and abundant supplies of water 

 are necessary for the production of stately specimens. The seed 

 is large, and may be put singly into pots, or three or four in each, 

 and the latter is the usual practice. A temperature of about 60 will 

 bring them up. If several plants are grown in a pot, they must be 

 separated while quite young, and put into small pots filled with very 

 rich soil. It is almost impossible to have the compost too rich, so 

 long as drainage is quite safe. When the pot is full of roots, shift to 

 a larger size, and commence the process of hardening, in readiness 

 for planting out in June. This is worth some care, for if the plant 

 receives a check when put out, it may take a long time to recover, 

 and then part of the brief growing season will be wasted. Many 

 gardeners never raise Ricinus in heat, but trust entirely to a sowing 

 in the open on the first day of May. The seeds are put in three 

 inches deep, in groups of three or four, and finally the plants are 

 thinned to one at each station. 



Prepare the soil in advance by deep digging and the incorporation 

 of an abundant supply of manure. The most effectual way of doing 

 it is to take out the earth to a depth of eighteen inches or two feet, 

 and fill in with decayed manure and loam, chiefly the former. Upon 

 this put out the plant, or sow seed as may be determined. If this 

 is too great a tax upon resources, or the near presence of shrubs 

 renders the proceeding impossible, drive a bar into the soil, which, if 

 light, can be readily worked into a fair-sized hole. Fill this with rich 

 stuff nearly to the top, and over it either put the plant or sow seed. 

 A heavy top dressing round each stem is also desirable, and the 

 application of copious supplies of water will carry the nourishment 

 down to the roots. Sub-tropical plants are only a source of disap- 

 pointment under niggardly treatment, but they amply repay all the 

 care and generosity which a liberal hand may lavish upon them. 



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