xi CASTOR SEEDS 229 



in this manner. In Jamaica, the club-moss, Lycopodium Mossing in 

 davatum, was employed by Mr. Morris for mossing ; it was J amaica - 

 made into ropes by a twisting process, and these were wound 

 continuously round the trees, so that all the wounds are 

 covered. 



DRYING AND PACKING. The bark is usually dried in the Drying to 

 sun on barbecues. It is better that the drying should be grainy 

 done gradually, and, for this reason, the bark must not be 

 kept too long in the sun at first. In rainy weather the drying 

 may be accomplished in well ventilated sheds in which a fire 

 may be kept burning, or the bark may be speedily dessicated Sun drying 

 in an American evaporator. Sun drying, however, is the the best ' 

 best, and the other methods should only be employed in 

 cases of necessity. According to the method of harvesting, 

 and the part of the plant from which the product comes, the Root bark 

 bark occurs in commerce in various forms. Thus there are alkaloids, 

 the root bark, which is always the richest in alkaloids ; the 

 quill bark, which is that from the branches and small trunks 

 rolled up into pipes and quills by the process of drying ; the 

 shavings, produced by the shaving method of harvesting ; 

 andyfo/ bark, which is mostly that from large trunks, the bark 

 being submitted to pressure so as to permit it to pack easily. 



The dried bark is usually shipped in bales which vary in Packing the 

 size according to the fancy of the planter ; but it may be bark ' 

 shipped in boxes or barrels, care being taken, however, to 

 keep each kind of bark in a separate package. 



CASTOR SEEDS. Ricinus communis. 



THE castor oil plant, sometimes called " Palma Christi," on 

 account of its beautiful palm shaped leaves, is well known to 

 every one living in the West Indies. It is supposed to be a Habitat, 

 native of India ; but it is now extensively cultivated in the 

 East Indies, in the warmer parts of Europe, and in the 

 Southern United States. In the West Indies it can scarcely 



