The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-07-09
EMPORIA NEWS.
PRACTICAL FARMING.
CASTOR BEANS

The cultivation of the castor bean
is attracting considerable attention
at the present time. Heretofore it
has been cultivated chiefly for the
oil for medicinal purposes, but it is
now coming largely into demand
for other uses. 1t is being used quite
extensively for lnbricating. and as
an excellent oil for the hair. For
medical purposes its use is almost
universal.
The natural family of this plant is
Euphor6fdce9.
SELECTION OF SOIL.
Almost any soil that will produce
wheat or corn, will answer for the
castor bean. When it can be had a
sandy loan 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 sur
passes even clover. Many farmers
say, for fertilizing purposes, a crop
raised upon land is worth several
dollars per aero to the land, on ac-
count of the additional fertility
gained by it. We have heard OF
landholders offering the free use OF
land to be planted with castor beans.
PREPARATION OF THE SOIL.
The ground should be put in good
condition for the seed as for other
crops. One thorough blowing, and
three or four borrowings, with a
heavy harrow, will be a sufficient
preparation. Fall blowing is I'M
doubleday desirable, as it more fully
exposes the particles of the soil to
the in uence OF the frosts and the
atmosphere, thereby pulverizing it,
and preparing it better for the seed.
Where q fall blowing has been be-
slowed upon the land, and another
cross-plowing in the spring, tho
rough narrowing will put 1t in ex-
cellent condition for heavy crop.
II the soil is inclined to be wet, 1t
should be thrown into back burrows
or lands, fifteen or twenty feet in
width, and the dead burrows be-
tween these lands should be kept
open for draining Off all surface wa
ter This is not more necessary for
the castor bean, than for many other
farm crops, whore the land is inclin-
ed to be wet. |at
PLANTING THE SEED.
The ground is now laid off in
rows, five or six feet apart each wav,
except that between every sixth and
seventh row, q distance of about
eight feet between the rows is left
one way, to admit horse and wag-
on or slide to pass, TO take the beans
when gathered. Hot water, some
what 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.
Applying tho hot water once will be
sufficient. If planted without this
preparation, they are great while
terminating, many of them not
making their appearance for three
or four weeks. With this prepare
ton they will soon terminate 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
IOt bO ludJ IL LIlC CuJ WOlIIlS ut-
stroy the first that come up, q stand
may be obtained from tho others,
which will come up week or two
later. Good, sound, plump seed
should be selected for planting. a
half bushel will plant eight or ten
acres. Eight or ten seed should be
dropped in each hill. But one, or at
most, two plants are to be left III q
hill. AS the cutworm is quite de-
structive to the plants, this number
of seeds is recommended, so as to
be certain of All 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 dam
ger of frost is over. The plants are
as easily destroyed by frost as our
common bean, and, therefore, plant
ing should be delayed till after the
first of May.
Gro BE Continued