The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-08-06
by GEORGE m. MANNING.
Washington Bureau,
The Pensacola Journal

Washington, d. c., Aug 5.-The
about the planting of 100000 acres OF
castor oil beans in order to obtain
about two million gallons of castor oil
for for lubricating engines for Arneri-
can airplanes is most interesting.
Suddenly facing the need of over
1000, 900 gallons of castor oil for hub
ricating the Liberty motor and other
aircraft engines when the worlds avail
able supply was only TOO, 900 gallons in
all, American ingenuity mastered the
problem, revived the growing OF castor
oil beans in the United States and re-
established a paying industry that will
bring good money to the growers in
the southeastern states and Califor-
MIA.
> The crop which will produce on an
average of twenty gallons to the acre
is expected. 10 be ready, some of 1t
as early as August, and viii be bought
by the war department at $3.50 per
46-pound bHshel.
India has been for many years the
leading producer of castor oil. Former
Iy big crops of the beans were grown
IN Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and
Illinois
that 100000 gallons OF castor oil
must he produced in the United States
this Spring and summer it set about
20 have the farmers OF Florida, Ala
bama. Georgia. South Carolina, Louis
lana and California plant 10000 acres
or the easter oil beans. securing help
ful cooperation from the agriculture
department. war trade board and from
rSpe-ts o. the allied governments.
The story os the mastery 81 the prob
ietn OF obtaining this enormous sup
riy " easter oil is tod most interest
ingiy In The following statement is
fued ~ the airoraft production board
irdRy
THE necessity Of securing millions
- gallons Of castor oil fer lubricating
nHtary aviation engines during the
first two years OF the war, when the
surp;y then available was only To0.-
Uc0 ea,leasi was one of the several un
expected problems encountered in 1917
In attempting to carry out the Arneri-
can air program.
.Ia the solution OF it, a lost Ameri-
can industry--the growing of castor
oeans has been revived, another good
paying crop has been revived for the
. planters of the south and southwest
and the manufacture of castor oil has
been increased.
The latest advices indicate that the
. planting Of los 600 acres with beans
has been accomplished throughout
sipht southern states and California
and on a large acreage in Cuba
Hnitt and Santo Domingo. The supply
or oil frornf this immense territory
should be Available this fall, some OF
it as early as August. Il is estimated
that the average acre Will produce 20
gallons of oil of No. / grade. making;
100000. gallons for the first year.
Although castor beans are not ma
tive TO this country. it is believed that
they will grow readily and bear well in
the south They can be grown be-
tween rows of citrus trees and also on
land previously ruined for cotton grow
ing by the boil weevi1. The govern
ment will let contracts for crushing
the picked crops.
Briefly. the process Of nfsnufactur-
ing castor oil entails the cold pressing
Of the beans for the extraction of the
oil suitable for aviation engines and
medicinal purposes. This oil is puri-
fled by q filtration process and is then
ready for use. The residue Of the first
pressing is treated ana al additional
supply of inferior oil is obtainable.
This is known as No. /. grade. After
the extraction of the inferior oil, cas-
tor Pomace remains, which. when
ground makes a valuable fertilizer.
Before the war, and the consequent
demand for castor oil for airplane en-
gineS, American medicinal and indus
trial needs called for about 2,5oe.000
gallons per year. Commercially it was
used in the manufacture of soaps,
~inks, dies. artificial leather and fly
paper.
The results of this work, now well
under way, are due in great extent to
cooperation between the department.
Of agriculture, the war trade board