Am.  Jour.  Pharm  \ 
December,  1895.  / 
The  Cast  or -Oil  Bean. 
625 
Almost  any  soil  that  will  produce  wheat  or  corn  will  answer  for 
the  castor  bean.  When  it  can  be  had,  a  sandy  loam  is  preferable. 
The  soil  should  be  dry.  Wet,  heavy  soils  are  not  adapted  to  its 
successful  culture. 
One  important  fact  in  connection  with  the  culture  of  castor  beans 
is  that  it  is  one  of  the  most  fertilizing  crops  raised.  In  this  respect 
it  surpasses  even  clover.  Many  farmers  say,  for  fertilizing  pur- 
poses, a  crop  raised  upon  poor  land  is  worth  several  dollars  per 
acre  to  the  land,  on  account  of  the  additional  fertility  gained  by  it. 
PREPARATION  OF  THE  SOIL. 
The  ground  should  be  put  in  good  condition  for  the  seed,  as  for 
other  crops.  One  thorough  plowing,  and  three  or  four  harrowings, 
with  a  heavy  harrow,  will  be  a  sufficient  preparation. 
PLANTING  THE  SEED. 
The  ground  is  now  laid  off  in  rows,  5  or  6  feet  apart,  each  way, 
except  that  between  every  sixth  and  seventh  row,  a  distance  of 
about  8  feet  between  the  rows  is  left  one  way,  to  admit  a  horse 
and  wagon  or  slide  to  pass,  to  take  the  beans  when  gathered.  Hot 
water,  somewhat  below  the  boiling  point,  should  be  poured  over 
the  seeds,  and  they  should  remain  in  this  water  twenty-four  hours 
before  being  planted.  The  temperature  of  the  water  will,  of  course, 
be  gradually  reduced  to  the  temperature  of  the  atmosphere.  Apply- 
ing the  hot  water  once  will  be  sufficient.  If  planted  without  this 
preparation,  they  are  a  great  while  in  germinating,  many  of  them 
not  making  their  appearance  for  three  or  four  weeks.  With  this 
preparation  they  will  soon  germinate  and  come  up  regularly.  Some 
farmers  put  in  each  hill  one-half  of  those  which  have  hot  water 
poured  over  them,  and  one-half  those  which  have  not ;  so  that  if 
the  cut-worms  destroy  the  first  that  come  up,  a  stand  may  be 
obtained  from  the  others,  which  will  come  up  a  week  or  two  later. 
Good,  sound,  plump  seed  should  be  selected  for  planting.  A  bushel 
will  plant  fifteen  to  twenty  acres.  Eight  or  ten  seed  should 
be  dropped  in  each  hill.  But  one,  or,  at  most,  two  plants  are  to  be 
left  in  a  hill.  As  the  cut-worm  is  quite  destructive  to  the  plants, 
this  number  of  seeds  is  recommended,  so  as  to  be  certain  of  an  even 
stand.  Of  course,  replanting  can  be  done ;  but  it  is  better  to  avoid 
it,  if  possible,  by  planting  plenty  of  seed.  The  seed  should  be 
planted  as  soon  as  all  danger  of  frost  is  over.    The  plants  are  as 
