The New Orleans crescent., 1868-11-21
AUCTION sALEs THIS DAY.
The Castor Bean.

The following article on the culture of the
Castor beau we extract from circular letter
issued by the house of II. J. Baker q Co., of
New York city, which firm is largely interested
/ the manufacture of Castor Oil:
SEPARATION AND PLANTING.
One thorough blowing and then narrowing the
ground with good heavy harrow, will be safi.
cient preparation.
The ground is now laid off in rows, Eve feet
apart each way, except that between every tenth
row distance OF about eight feet between the
rows Is left one way. to admit a horse and wagon
or sled 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 be-
ing planted. The Temperature OF the water will,
of course, be gradually reduced to the tempsra.
ture Of the atmosphere. Applying the water
once will be sufficient. II planted without this
preparation they are great while in terminating.
many of them not making their appearance for
three or four weeks. With this preparation they
will soon germinate and come up regularly. Some
planters put in each hill one.half those which
have had hot water poured over them, and one
half those which have not, so that IL the first that
come up be destroy ed, q 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. half bushel will plant
eight or ten acres. Four seeds should be dropped
in each bill. But one or at least two, plants are
to be left in hill. The seed should be planted as
soon as all danger of frost is over. The plants
are about as easily destroyed by frost as cotton,
and hence care should be taken to observe the
above directions.
AFTER CULTuRE.
The cultivation of the plant consists in destroy.
ing the weeds and grass, and keeping the soil
open and mellow. These objects are chiefly
attained by using the horse and cultivatOr or
email piew, working between the rows both ways.
Ii is also necessary TO work among the plants
with hoes. going over them once or twice, cutting
the weeds away from the plants that cannot be
reached with the plow or cultivator, aud drawing
little mellow earth to the plants. gradually re-
ducing the humber 10 one plant in a hill. Que
strong, vigorous plant will produce better seeds
than two, and as great quantity. After the
plant IL two feet high II s capable of taking care
of iises, and grows rapidly. After heavy rains,
howevtr. it is still advisable to work between the
rows With the horse and cutivator, breaking up
the crps; that has formed on the surface of the
ground, and opening and loosening the soil, to
derive q greater benefit from the atmosphere. IL
will BIZ seen that the cultivation is as simple as
that Of. indian corn, and decidedly easier and SIM
pler than cotton.
HARVESTING.
Aboet the frat of July the bean begins to
ripen. As before stated, they are produced in
pods or husks, or spikes, about eighteen inches
long. As seen as afew pods begin TO turn brown
and oLsn, they should be gathered. This is doue
by eurtng off the entire spike. Each plant has a
pumbef Of these, and they are produced and ripen
in succession till frost. Only those exhibiting
brown seed should be cut. These spikes are then
thrown into wagon, or on a sled, passing through
the broad rows, and hauled away.
EAfter the beans begin to rpen, the field should
be gone over about every ten days till frost, or
till they stop producing. In hot, dry weather
they ripen more rapidly tnan in cool, wet weather.
The work is all light. After being gathered. the
beans are taken to d dry yard (ssy one hundred
feet sqqare) sloping TO the SOUTH so as to get as
much beat possible from the sqa to riPsa tho
boups aud cause them 70 Durst from the hlsk.
They pop or fy out to the distance of many feet.
The spikes are occasionally turned over and ex.
posed 70 the sun, until all the seeds have left the
entire crop. The beans are swept mp aud gath
cred, Especially before every rain and, before
being Aent 10 MARKET are run through a common
fsnniDi mill with suitable riddles, freeing them
from sll extraneous matter. When rain is an.
ticipatgd. the spikes thrown into shed, which
shonldJacjon the yard, or into heap, and covered
with saaw or plank.
YIELD, ETC.
The yield viii depend much upon the culture be-
sfowed upon the crop, the seasons and the care
taken in gathering and ripening the seeds.
About thIrty-fve bushels to the acre is the pro-
bable syield. Some cultvators will raise more,
other !ess. Planters will do well to pay attention
TO thiScrop, for which contract can be made for
the entire crop, at remunerating cash prices. 1t
will pKy better than raising corn, potatoes, sugar
cane, cotton or almost any other produce.
TbeScastor bean may be planted successfully 10
Louisisn from the middle of February to the
middle Of March, The first beans of the crop
usually ripen about the 10th of July. ltis adyis-
able then the plant attans the height of seven or
eight feet to break off or bend the main stalk.
Any s5i 10 Louisiana Is good for the production
of the castor bean. and the old fields covered with
the coco grass is especially adapted to its culture.