Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-03-05

EDwARpsvILLE, Feb. 3, 1S42.
Messrs Joseph Charles d. Co., Wholesale Drug
gusts, 81. Louis.
GENTLEMEN:-In compliance with your request
we hereby give to you, far are able, the
manner of raising and gathering the Castor Bean.
The soil best adapted for the Castor Bean is
IooSe light and rich soil, and is better when it is
fresh or new ground, The ground should be pre-
pared pretty much as it is for corn--the rows
should be laid off, say four feet apart and they
may be cultivated with one set Of rows so as to be
ploughed but one way, or the ground may be laid
off in rows so as to cross plough Between every
fourth or fifth row space of six or eight feet
should be left to afford room for the vehicle
in which the crop is gathered, to pass. The crop
should be planted as early as it can be, So not
10 be endangered by frost. They ought to be
planted by the 10th April, and may be pat in as
late as 10Th of May. About three-fourths of
bushe OF beans are required to seed 10 acres
ground. Some farmers put s or 10 seed in HILL
SO as to he sure OF getting good stand, and if
hey come up thick, they cut them out. One and
two stalks are LETT in hill. Some will not leave
but one. If the soil is very fertile and the rows
feet apart, we suppose Two may be left in hill
1t Is not necessary to leave gangwayS, but one
way through the field between every fourth and
ti1th rows, as before stated.
| The farmer must be his own Judge, when he
should begin to gather the crop. lie can tell this
from the boil which contains the bean, beginning to
crack Or open little as the bean ripens.
The method of gathering, is to take small slide
or cart with one horse hitched to it, narrow enough
to pass between the fourth and fifth rows and box
or bed on it that will hold 6 or bushels. This is
made 10 pass along as is necessary, while the
hands pass along between the rows and cut off
the branches that nave ripened beans on them.
After filling the vehicle, it is driven OFF to yard
prepared for the purpose, which is an acre OF
ground cleared off smooth and swept, and ought
to be from 90 TO 200 feet i'll diameter, according to
the size Of the crop the farmer may have. The
branches or buls are thrown in the centre of this
yard and spread out little, so that the air and heat
Of the sun may act upon them. The effect of these
is to open the bean hull, and the bean frequently
PUSHES out with such force us to be thrown 30 or
40 feet-hence the necessity of having so large a
space Of ground TO spread them upon.
The whole fled must be gone over in this man.
ner, and the branches all Topped off that have ripe
beans on them and this going over must be repeat
ed twice and sometimes thrice il a week. or else
the beans will pop out in the field and be lost.
The bolls on the yard should be stirred little
every day, if the weather is warm and dry, so as
to give :hem chance to dry and let the beans out
The beans are separated by winnowing, expos.
ing them to the wind, or by the flaming mill, with
a coarse riddle, in the same way wheat is cleaned
The crop of beans is cultivated in the same way
that corn is.
The foregoing is as correct description of the
manner of raising the bean as we are able either
from observation or inquiry, to give. All of which
is respectfully submitted. Very Respectfully,
EATON Il ADAMS.