Castor Oil Seed.

Suggested To Planters As Quick Crop.

A Sydney agent, Mr. G. Grahame, has decided to give special attention to the marketing of castor oil seeds ; and (as his advertisement, published elsewhere, indicates) he is prepared to give advice to Islands' residents about the growing of this crop.

The circular which he has prepared appears to us to have special interest for all Islands' planters; and it is therefore reprinted hereunder.

THIS circular is written for the pur purpose of bringing to the notice of planters and farmers the value of castor seed, either as a catch or main crop.

For some years, with copra at high figures, no one worried about any thing else, and all were content to carry all the eggs in the one basket. Now that prices have slumped, and do not appear to be going much higher for some time, planters are looking round for a crop which will augment their returns, and the castor bean, giving a quick return, requiring very small outlay, little atten tion, comparatively free from pests, a hardy grower, and giving a crop which will keep indefinitely under reasonable conditions, stands out as suitable for this purpose.

In many places the castor tree, grow ing wild, is regarded as a pest, because of its seed, which is thrown out to a distance when ripe if not harvested. The fact is, however, that the tree grows only from seed, and under cultivation, when the seeds are harvested, is less troublesome than many other crops. If necessary, the tree can be eradicated in a season, as the plant grows only from seed, and once it is pulled out there is an end of it.

The danger to cattle lies only in the seed, and if they are kept away from the trees while actually in bearing, as would be done with any other tree, and the seed stored away from food crops, this danger ceases. The leaves of the tree are an excellent cattle food, and fed to milch cows tend to improve the milk supply, while the husks and stems left after the crop has been harvested form a most valuable manure, rich in potash.

With most crops, a market exists for sufficiently large quantities, and buyers usually make forward contracts for their supplies. The grower of a small crop is often unable to sell his produce for this reason, and to plant a large area of a crop not previously proved in a particular soil or district is risky.

It is not wise to plant large areas of castor seed to begin with. The plant should be encouraged to grow where it does best. Small patches here and there on the plantation should be selected; half an acre is one spot, an acre somewhere else, a grove down by a creek, or on the edge of a swamp; a line or two as a wind-break or boundary line; between other trees as a catch crop, on the waste land where the offal is thrown, or on ground not suitable for other crops. The tree makes a useful firebreak, as its leaves and stems, holding large quantities of water, will not readily burn.

After planting, some attention dur ing the first six weeks is all that is necessary until harvesting, and the

plant is very hardy and drought resisting. As the crop is obtained in from four to seven months, the return is quick, and as long as the seed is unbroken and kept dry, it will last indefinitely in store.

The plant is almost free from insect pests, the main trouble being a species of caterpillar which attacks the leaves in the early stages, and which can be dealt with by spraying. Two other troubles which have never been known to affect more than 30 per cent, of a crop are the bacterial wilt and grey mold, both of which are caused by too sour and acid condition of the soil, and can be prevented by remedying these faults.

Experience has shown that the crop gives the best returns when treated as an annual, though it will yield crops of decreasing quantity for three or four years, after which it is not worth keeping.

The seeds should be soaked for 24 hours in hot water (not boiling), and, if the tree is to be planted as an an nual, sown about 18 to 24 inches apart in rows 4 feet apart in good soil, or 4 feet by 4 feet, if the soil is not rich.

Any good maize land is suitable for the castor tree. Two or three seeds should be planted in each hole, about three inches apart, and the strongest left in when the trees are about six inches high. Those culled out, if healthy, can be transplanted to fill up any misses, or planted out in a new area, for which spare ground shou always be left. About ten pounds of seed is sufficient for one acre. When the plants are about two feet high, the main stem should be nipped back to keep the tree from growing too high and encourage fruit-bearing laterals This not only ensures a better crop, but makes picking quicker and easier.

The trees should not be allowed to grow more than about five feet high unless they are being used as a wind break. when the planter will use his own discretion.

The fruit appears in spiked clusters first green, then red, and as they ripen turning brown. At this stage the fruit should be picked. All the clusters not ripen at once, and the trees should be gone over once a week at least pick the clusters whose lower pods are turning brown. In hot countries it has been found that if after picking, the frees are cut back to about four feet, they will give a second crop in about three months.

The picked fruit should be taken to a drying ground, where it is spread out to dry in the sun for four or five

days. The ground should be hard and clean, so that the seed can be readily gathered, and the fruit should be spread to a depth of about six inches, being turned over at least once a day to ensure all pods drying out. In case of rain it should be raked together and covered with a tarpaulin, as it must be kept dry, and in rainy districts it is advisable if possible to use dry ing sheds, where the fruit can be dried out regardless of the weather.

If the drying ground is in the open, it should be surrounded by a fence of bag ging or iron or bamboo, as the seeds pop to some distance as they leave the pods, and this fence should be at least four feet high. A little flailing will help to separate seeds which do not readily leave the pods, and when all are sepa

rated they should be gathered up and bagged, while the pods and husks make valuable manure. In bagging, care should be taken not to break the mottled skin of the bean, so long as this is intact, and the seed kept dry, it will last indefinitely, without deterioration.

The yield should average a ton per acre, and the cost with native labour has been not more than £2/15/- per acre. The return is therefore worth while. Putting cost at £3, freight at £ 2, bagging at 5/- and other charges at say £1, the total cost is £6/5/-, and the present price is between £13 and £14 per ton c.i.f. and e., which gives a good margin.

The writer is prepared to supply sel ected seed for planting at 6d. per lb., and to contract to purchase any quan tities, large or small, at the current market price, less 5 per cent. The price will be determined on samples to be submitted, on which a firm figure will be quoted, 75 per cent, of which will be paid against documents in Australia, and the balance on acceptance of con signments as up to sample.

The market is therefore assured, and the writer will be glad to answer any inquiries from planters and farmers willing to grow the crop, and to give any information.