The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-01-10
DC. Gillette
Gets Big
Castor Oil
Contracts
Small Farmer to Work Through GIL
lett-Has Contract for 10000
Acres With Signal Corps
and viii Sub Let It
(By Will P. Kennedy, Washington
Representative of The Tampa
Times)

persons in Florida who are seeking a
chance to participate in the govern
ment contracts for growing castor
beans, the signal corps is encourag-
ing just such organization of the
work as is being done by D. G. Gil
lett of Tampa, general manager of
the Buckeye Nurseries.
While the signal corps is DESTROYS
of having the largest possible mum.
Der of growers participate in this pa
triotic and profitable work of grow
ing castor beans, from which castor
oil is to be crushed as a lubricant for
airship engines, it cannot deal per-
sonally with those who have only
small acreage to plant. 1t is advis-
ing that farmers take sub-contracts
from one who has had dealings with
the government and who can on a
comparatively small margin of profit
take general charge of planting Of
10000 acres or more
GIIett Tampa Representative
Officials of the bureau of plant in.
dustry of the u S. department Of
agriculture feel that the signal corps
has been fortunate in securing such
representative in Tampa as Mr.. Gil
lett. who on account of wide exper-
fence as grower can best advise the
small planters on the cultivation of
this new crop, and who from his past
achievements in Washington and
from his personal friendly relati ms
with government officials will be able
to secure all possible advantages for
the farmers who wish to market their
crop through him.
Practically all the big acreage al
lotment for Florida has been made,
so the best chance for owners of
small tracts who wish to share in the
government contracts is by applica-
ton to Mr.. Gillett, who has a con-
tract for the maximum amount the
government would allow to any indi-
vidual or corporation.
The government is contracting to
buy at fixed price all the castor
beans that can be grown on from rs.
900 to 100000 acres. This acreage Is
extended over wide area. Con
tracts have been approved for all
States South of St. Louis and some
paintings are being arranged for in
CUBA Hawaii and San Domingo. OF
the total acreage something like 40.
600 has been reserved for Florida,
and practically all this has been
promised to contractors who have
been certified to the signal corps as
agricultural leaders.
Has Supply In Sight
The government is not, as has
been stated in some articles and
trade journals, in desperate straits
for supply of castor oil. Govern
ment needs are pretty we'll taken
care of for the present and the i'm
mediate future. From the vast acre
age soon to be planted under govern
ment contract, the signal corps is
confident of having a sufficient ouan-
tity to meet all needs of the military
service when the program for whole.
sale construction of airships is car.
ried out.
The signal corps has been forced
into developing homegrown supply
by the fact that India, on which this
country has heretofore depended 70,
Its supply of castor oil, has been cut
OF as source of supply for the Uni
ted States by embargo. Although
the India market is closed, the cas-
tor beans from that country are be
ing crushed in England and a suppl,
OF the oil has been apportioned tt
the French and American air fleets
Care has been taken by the sigma
corps in letting these contracts no
to intrude upon land that otherwis,
would be devoted to raising corn
wheat or other needed food supplies
The price has been made so atraetiv,
that the farmer even growing an en-
tirely new crop, can make more mon
ey out of it than from anything else
he could plant.
Florida has been selected as the
state in which more of these beans
Will be grown because the warm ri,
mate makes it the best growing
State, because the seed beans can he
planted between rows of young citrus
trees while they are growing to a
bearing stage and because being q
To-day crop and Florida having an
all-season growing climate. the men
who plant castor beans can also grow
another crop of food from the same
land