UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

 BULLETIN No. 867 



Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry 

 WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief 



Washington, D. C. 



PROFESSIONAL PAPER 



September 3, 1920 



THE CASTOR-OIL INDUSTRY 



By 



J. H. SHRADER, formerly Chemical Technologist, Office of Drug, 

 Poisonous, and Oil Plant Investigations 



CONTENTS 



Page 



The Source of Castor Oil 1 



Trade and Commerce 3 



The Inspection or Valuation of Castor 

 Beans 7 



Manufacture of Castor Oil 9 



Properties of the Oil 31 



Uses of Castor Oil 35 



Conclusions 40 



WASHINGTON 

 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 



1920 



