XI CASTOR SEEDS 23 1 



would remove considerable quantities of these substances 

 from the soil. The plant has many roots which penetrate 

 deeply, and, therefore by their decay they would open chan- 

 nels for the penetration of the atmosphere, and thus increase 

 the valuable constituents of and add organic matter to the 

 land, thereby temporarily increasing the available quantity 

 of plant food, and so the error of imagining that the plant 

 enriches the soil may be explained in this way. 



Cultivation. — Plants are propagated by seeds which are Theprepara- 



, ^ , , ^n , , • , 1 1 1-1 tion of the 



sown m the fields. The land is cleared, and prepared m the land. 



usual way ; deep tillage, and subsequent harrowing, being 



necessary to render the soil open and free so that the roots 



can penetrate easily. Before sowing, hot water should be Soaking the 



poured over the seeds, and they may, with advantage, be left 



to soak in the water for twenty four hours. Then the seeds Distances. 



are planted at distances of six feet by six, or eight feet by 



eight, in good rich land. The best time for sowing is just 



before the rai-ny season commences. Four seeds should be Sowing the 



planted in each hole, at the distance of six inches from each 



other ; and, when the plants are from six to ten inches high, 



all but the strongest seedling should be pulled up. The 



seeds will usually germinate in about ten days, and the 



plants will grow rapidly, and commence to bear in four 



months from the time of sowing. The ground will have to Weeding 



be kept clear of weeds, and the plants may with advantage f^g ^°^ 



be moulded up occasionally. As the object of the planter is 



to produce trees with many fruit-bearing branches, it will be Nipping 



. , , , . ... , . back the 



necessary to nip back the main stem when it is making too stem, 

 rapid growth, otherwise long lanky stems with few flowering 

 spikes will result. The castor oil plant has few enemies, for 

 most insects shun it ; and for this reason, it has been recom- 

 mended, in cases of insect blights on other plants, that Blights, 

 castor oil bushes should be planted at intervals in the 

 affected fields. In older plants, however, the bark of the 

 stem becomes attacked with various insects such as the 



