The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-06

week to a consideration Of the subject.
Texas farmer gives his experience, which
is not much calculated to encourage others
to enter upon castor bean cultivation
There are two sides to every question, how
ever, and no doubt some have found it q
very profitable crop. We are not disposed
to advise the cultivation Of castor beans
just yet in our section.
Texas farmers will make more money
when they diversity their crops more, says
the TeraS Farmer. The old idea of stick
ing mainly to cotton whether it pays or not
is poor one. Every intelligent farmer
should make a study of the different crops
adapted to this climate ard SOIL and not
only study, but an experiment of any
thing that promises good yield. Women
have an adage, Let your head save your
feet, )" which would be well TO apply to
mems work also. But few are willing TO
read up the excellent literature on these
subjects, pTefeTTing to follow in the ruts of
their parents even though they never led
them out of poverty.
Among the neglected crops of this state,
that would probably pay better than the
old crops, is the castor bean. They can be
planted in this climate from March 20 to
April Is. They begin to ripen about July
Is and continue till frost comes. They come
into market earlier in the year than cotton
thus bringing in money earlier, and allows
ing the children who have to help make tie
crop to get TO school earlier
Cotton and some other Texas crops are
sometimes destroyed by worms and il sects
but the castor bean plant is not only proof
against these pests but often rids the farm
species, the palma crysty. is a preventive OF
moles. 1t has teen proven that with
proper care and cultivation the castor bean
will stand drought better even than cotton,
and is known to be surer than any other
crop hitherto raised largely in the state.
This gives a great advantage. as drought is
the deadliest enemy to the farmers pros
perity, and a season is seldom passed with
out crops being more or less injured thereby.
The soil for this crop should be prepared
just as it is for corn. Plant the beans in
hills about 315x4 feet, either drill or cheek
and thin to one stalk when the plant Is
from five to eight inches high. Poor land
will require closer planting. Plow just as
you would corn, and just as long as you
can without breaking the stalks badly
Care should be- used in dry weather not to
plow too deep near the roots, as it will
cause the beans to e shed too soon.
Now comes the harvesting, which is the
most Objectionable part of the crop to south
ern farmers; for. as said before, they begin
to ripen about July 10 and that is a time
when it is very pleasant to lie in the shade
But you have to begin TO watch the bottom
punches about this time and 60 through at
least once week, and oftener when the
weather is very dry, and cut off all that have
begun to turn brown. or crack, and carry
them to the yard or floor to dry in the sun.
In the regular gathering, some sJraddle a
row with the hind wheels OF q wagon
improvised into a cart with a large box
for q bed. Some in planting make the fifth
row feet wide and 60 through gathering
in a sled, while others gather in sacks, like
cotton, which does very well for small
crops. A plank floor inclined TO the south,
with sides inclosed to feet high with
plank or canvas, should be prepared to
spread them on There should be a shed at
one end or some other arrangement, to
shelter in case Of rain-for though shower
will not damage them, several days OF rain
will. The last cutting comes sometimes too
late TO be dried in the sun. These can be
stored away in an out house for next years
market.
When the beans have popped from Che
shells they can be separated by an ordinary
grain fan with suitable riddles and cleaned
by winno wing or pouring from hight on
windy day. There are farming ma
chimes for the purpose, however, costing
SIG, which will answer for several neigh
bors. The average yield, with proper care
and attention, IS from twenty to thirty
bushels per acre, and they sell from 81 %
to 81 50 per bushel.
The Weatherford Castor Oil Company
PROPOSES to buy all that are raised in Texas
and pay st. Louis prices; also, to furnish
seed fur all desiring 20 try the crop at their
market value. / hey now have TO buy beans
from the nor west t. keep their press run
ming half the lime. Wake W, ye farmers,
and try your fortunes in another rut.