Ix INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER 



to be a very nutritious and wholesome food for cattle, hogs, &c., 

 and of which they are particularly fond. 



The modes which would be proper to adopt in the cultivation 

 of the Ricinus, is not for me to attempt an arrangement of; but 

 I take the liberty to state, that supposing an acre of land to be 

 occupied with full grown, bearing shrubs, the best distance they 

 should be from each other would perhaps be ten feet, which would 

 allow 360 plants on an acre, including room for water trenches, 

 &c. : upon a moderate calculation each tree would jaeUl 50 pounds 

 weight of beans per annum ; this would amount to 18,000 pounds 

 weight per acre: the produce in oil, taking it only at one-third, 

 would be 6,000 pounds, or 750 gallons : supposing this quantity 

 sold at 125. per gallon (which I am told is far under the market 

 price), would bring <£4oO. sterling. The expense of cultivation, 

 manufacture, and freight to England, say £50. ; so that a pro- 

 bable profit of c£400. per acre would arise to the Honourable 

 Company. Twenty-eight acres, containing 10,000 trees, would 

 at this rate produce an annual revenue of ^11,200. 



As the seasons in the equable climate of this island would but 

 little affect plantations of this valuable shrub, calculations may 

 be formed concerning them with some degree of certainty ; and I 

 have no hesitation in saying, that the foregoing one is likely to 

 be much within what may be justly expected to accrue from the 

 culture of the pal ma christi, and the preparation of castor oil 

 from its fruit. 



It must, however, be understood, that some time would neces- 

 sarily elapse (perhaps a year or two) before any considerable 

 advantage could be experienced ; and even should not what I 

 have suggested prove to answer in every point, the trial may be so 

 easily made on an inferior scale, and at so little hazard, trouble, 

 and expense, that, with submission, I conceive it would not be 



