1849. 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



231 



acres, and thai the machinery about to be introduced, 

 orany other machine, enables us to procure tile ;» t a 

 of l- cents p< r rod, the coal of our drains made 

 i.i a lasting and perfect manner, would be at the rate 

 id, or $27.30-100 per acre. 

 A field thus drained and cultivated may reasona- 

 i cted to yield an increased ratio, equal to 

 Inglish field, all things else being equal. Then, 

 if our average crops have been 20 bushels peracre, 

 (an ;' many ol our farms range much higher,) w e shall 

 bushi Is. Bui suppose we obtain GU- 

 I', 30 bush< Is per acre, you will easily see that the 

 increased from about ^ per acre, to 

 re. Iii ..(her words, the field often acres, 

 at a costof $273, gives a return in nett profits of $180. 

 re yielding 20 bushels ot $1 - - $20 00 undrained 

 Cost of cultivation, lii 00 



Profit, 



Increase product by draining say 10 bu. 



3 00 

 10 00 



Total profit when drained - - - $18 00 

 Then 10 acres will give $180, a ratio which soon 

 returns the outlay. There is room here for large de- 

 ductions, and yet leave us well satisfied with the ben- 

 of thorough draining ; and from the facts given 

 every man can make his own estimates as to the val- 

 ue of the benefits claimed. 



In conclusion, lei me say, that your plants when 

 thus protected from excess of moisture, will obtain a 

 more vigorous growth with a firm straw, preventing 

 inagreal degree its lodgment by storms. Thegrain 

 becomes more plump; it ripens uniformly; and of 

 course it is heavier per bushel. The straw posses- 

 ses the elements of better fodder for your cattle and 

 sheep, and makes better manure. Your fallows will be 

 more easily and earlier worked; they will be less infest- 

 with weeds, and your plow may run much deeper. 

 Such, gentlemen, are the advantages which have 

 i again and again derived by others. Why then 

 may not each one of u?, be at least as fortunate ? It 

 may be urged that few farmers can spare so large an 

 outlay on their farms, as we have spoken of; true, I 

 admit it ; but let us remember that our freedom was 

 btained in a day, nor do I believe in the benefit, 

 comfort or advantage of steam car speed in our farm- 

 ing operations. Caution is always necessary, and I 

 would not advise any farmer to undertake the drain- 

 ing of more than one or two acres at the outset. — 

 Sure, from v. hat I have seen and learned, that he 

 will double the quantity every spring or autumn, un- 

 til his farm shall always blossom and bear fruit, from 

 evi ry acre, far beyond his needful wants." 



CASIO?. 0!L PLANT. — (Bicinus Communis.) 

 Jill WILSON BOLT, OF ILLINOIS. 



The territory of country engaged, even partially, 

 in the cultivation of this vegetable is quite limited 

 — being confined for the most part to Southern Illi- 

 nois and a small part of Missouri, with perhaps an 

 isolated county here and there in some of the South- 

 ern States. This narrow territory is not the result 

 of uncongenial climate, for it can be successfully 

 grown as far north as Maine, where it is sometimes 

 seen in gardens as an ornamental plant. The cause 

 ol the circumscribed territory is partially the result of 

 want of information on the subject of growing it, 

 but more particularly the limited demand, which is 

 often more than supplied by the small section of 

 country in which it is known and raised. It is cul- 



i entin y I ir the seed, do other 1 1 

 plant being of any use eve,- | for manure, per i 

 which is not here regarded. 



Th( ; .,,,., n 



the middle or perhapi I r j] and the ■ 



pari of May. The earlier the betti r, il I 

 be favorable, as it. is killed by the ts of 



autumn. The crops, th( reforc, 

 upon the time the season of harvestii ac< -. 



The ground in which il i. , lanted 

 deep rich soil, deeply an I |, and 



the surface line!;, pulveri; I. '.;,, ,- j 

 pared, it should he laid off in parallel rows both 

 ways, not le s than four fe< I each way, i 



fifth row six feet out! way lor the i 

 harvesting. If the seed be good, f ur I 

 hill are enough to plant unless there is . 

 that the cut-worm will be troublesome, in \ 

 case eight or ten will not be too many. At tie 

 of two weeks after planting, now and then one will 

 be seen pushing its way through the earth I 

 light, and in four weeks nearly all' will ap] 

 Some practice soaking the seed "three or fair clay.s 

 before planting, which practice is a ver) good 

 It brings forward the crop, which i. an 

 consideration. When the plants are about six 

 inches in height, the hoe and plow often 



and thoroughly used among them, that the earth may 

 he kept loose, and the grass and weeds in dw 

 jection. Twice hoeing is cm •,., , icient, and 



even one may do very well in clean ground if one 

 be skilful in the use of the plow. 



The labor of raising the Castor Oil Bean up to 

 the period of harvesting is about the same as is 

 required by corn. The appearance of the planis at 

 first is very diinunitive, bearing no sort of compari- 

 son to their ultimate height and magnitude. They 

 often attain the height of eight feet," ami with 

 numerous branches and massive leaves present quite 

 a formidable appearance. I have many plants on 

 my farm that now measure full eight feet in height, 

 and promise yet greater elevation. 



The number of plants allowed to remain in a hill 

 should not exceed two, and many who have had 

 much experience in the business say that one in a 

 hill is enough. Mine, this season," wore thinned 

 down to one, and in many parts of the field are nearly 

 as dense as a cane brake. I am of the opinion that, 

 as a general thing, one will be found more profitable 

 than two. Two may produce more beans in the 

 fore part of the season, but take the wholes. 

 as a criterion, one will give the larger crop. One 

 throws out far more branches in proportion, and pro- 

 duces much larger cones of bolls. 



The harvesting season usually commences about 

 the middle of August, and coi i til -'Jack 



Frost" summarily despatches th< nam- 



ing. At the first the labor of harvesting is com- 

 paratively light, but when the season fair] 

 tour acres will keep one hand quite bu •'. . The pro- 

 cess of harvesting is usually as follows:— a plat of 

 ground several yards square is cleaned off and made 

 as nearly smooth as can be, called the "poppinor 

 ground," where the beans are taken to be i: popped 

 out." A horse attached to% one horse slide or sled 

 is driven along the wide spaces already m ntioned, 

 and the beans gathered and taken to the ground. 

 The beans do not grow in long pods like most beans, 

 but in diamond shaped bolls, generally containing 

 three beans each, attached to a stem like grapes^ 



