160 
FIRST BOOK. 
ever traced the thick rib which passes down each 
of the seven lobes? All the ribs meet together 
at a point near the middle of the leaf, where the 
stalk joins it. 
4. The plants grow so fast that, when they are 
The Castor-oil Plant. 
about four months old, some of them have seeds 
ready for gathering. As the flower-stalks spring 
from the branches, the grower nips off* the top of 
the chief stem, to cause the plant to branch well. 
6. As soon as the seed-vessels begin to turn 
brown the spikes are cut, and carried away to 
