AROUND THE FARM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 108, 9 May 1896, Page 3 (Supplement)

AROUND THE FARM.

THE CASTOR OIL PLANT.

tjjtoeb the title of' New Commercial Crops ' eff Zealand,' the Governmenb have fM enslv issued in their leaflets for farmers offlß information by Mr T. VV. Kirk about the castor oil plant. There is no doabt bat thab Ibe wider spread tbe operations of tb9 farmer are, the more chance he has nndor all conditions and in all seasons, of mjfcitte profit from bis business. I agree with Mr Kirk when he eaya in his introduction to the subject! under notice, bhafc ' thia ■ Zntry is admirably Euited to the growth of many plants yielding oils, drug*, and nther Diodoctß of economic value, such as odluo, caator oil, peanut oil, linseed, etc., f nt which large sums are at present; annually sent oub of the colony.' However, Inmost of these special crops the cosbot the machinery nocassary to carry oub with profit the industry i* bo great _aa to ba aliflßßfc prdhibitlve. On the question of the cwtor oil plant I have practically no knowledge, and I l»y before my readers the main points bronghb out in tho leaflet more aa • mafifcer of interest than with a view of recommending an experiment in the cultivation of the caator oil plant. Thecftstoroil planbf Palma chnsii, fficmus cummunis), says Mr Kirk, is generally believed to be a native of India, but originated, according fco A. de Candolle, in North Eastern Africa, Now found widely Bpread ever the warmer and warmer temperate regions of the earth. A very handsome B nß ornamental plant, growing in tropical countries to ft height of 40 feet. In ternpofafce climes it seldom reaches more than five feet) 6f nix feet. There are quite a nninber of varieties of this species, the principal differences are in the colour of foliage dnly. The following ia a brief deicdptidn of the typical plant:—Perennial, thd Btems are smooth, round, with a larga pibh and with a purplish bloom in the upper portions of the plant), leaves, bluegreßa, paler beneath, on long curved stalks, arranged alternately. FloWers, monoecious (namely, both sexes in onti flower). Fruit, about lin long, blunti and deeply grooved, armed with ft nntnber of weak carved spines. Its cultivation has frequently been urged in pasß years, both in agricultural nowspapers of the colony, and by witnesses appearing before Committees of Parliainenb and Royal Commissions. The chldf valuo of this plant lies in the Oil which can be obtained from the seeds, or beans as they are called. Ib ia used very extensively for medicinal purposes, As a lubricating material for all classes ot machinery, and in bbc manufacture of soaps, pomatum, perfumed oils, for lanip oil, and for dressing leather, while the residue or marc is a valuable fertiliser, rich in nitrogen. Messrs Bently and Tritten give the following account of the modo of obtaining the oil:—'Castor oil may bo obtained from tbe seeds in three ways: (1) By decoction, (2) by expression. (3i by some solvent, as alcohol. All the oil, however, now consumed in England, India, and the United States—and, with few exceptions, in other parts of the world —is obtained by expression.' All processes in which a high temperature is employed are considersd objectionable, from increasing the acridity of tha oil. In India, in order to extract tha oil, the seeds are first gently croshtji'i between rollers, and after the seed coats or husks, and unsound seeds, have been removed by hand picking, the clean kernels are submitted to pressure in an hydraulic press ; and the oil thu3 obtained id first heated with water until the water boils, by which the albuminous matters are separated as a jcnra, and the oil i& then finally Bbrained through a flannel. By somewhat modified processes good castor oil ia also obtained in this country, and in the United States ; bub in tho West Indies it is prepared by boiling the crushed seeds, after depriving them of their integuments in water, and afterwards separating the oil by skimming or straining. The oil thus extracted is very inferior to that obtained by expression aa before described. Good commercial castor oil has a viscid consistence, and a specific gravity of aboufa 6"96. It ia colourless, or pale straw-yellow, with scarcely any odour, and a mild, somawhat unpleasant, taste, which is succeeded by a very slight acridity. Inferior oils have a brownish colour, a nauseous odour, and a disagreeable acrid taste.1 The plant will grow in almost any kind of Boilas longaa it ia not water-logged, bud thrives boat on lighb ground, and in come places does well on almosb pure sand, and in arid districts, but is cub by frost, The castor-oil plant may be grown either as a special crop or as an auxiliary only, for the latter purpose headlands and other suah places may be utilised. There are numeroua modes of plantingandcultivating. If intended for a permanent crop the land should be ploughed in ridges ot about 10ft in width, and tha seeds sown ac least 6fb apart. Piaco two seeds close together, and about 2in below the surface ; this lessens the chance of failure, and, when the plantß are about 6in to 10in biph pull op the weaker of the two. The advantage of having so much space ia that tbe cultivator can fee gob through between the lines, as also a vehicle for calleecting the fruit when ready. If ib is intended to gather one crop only, say on headlands* for instance, ib is necessary to allow merely space sufficient to pass between bho rows for tha purpose of weeding and harvesting:, tbe plqnta being thon destroyed and need aa fertilizers. Tako care that the seed selected is all of one variety, plump and well matured ; if of several varieties the crop will ba uneven. Seed, if sown aa received, wiil spmetimea remain in tha ground for a long tiaaa before germinating, several means are therefore adopted to hasten this, tbe simplest being to steep the seed in hot water for a day before sowing, which Bhould be done about tbe end of August) or early in September, or as soon as all dangers of frosts has passed. Tbe young plants will appear in about sixteen days, and should be kept clear of weeda for a few works till the foliage is well developed, after which they will be more than a match lor most weeds, and need no further attention save fco nip back the main Htem when it "growing too rapidly, tho object being to produce numerous fruit-bearing branches, »nd. prevent the growth of long anky atema carrying few flowering spikes. Directly tha seed capsules begin to turn Mown und show sigoa of bursting, they tauat bs gathered, otherwise the seeds will »a ecattered over the ground; therefore, as Boon aa these indications are observed, those spikos bearing ripening seeds are cub and thrown into a barrow or cart, the work of cutting being dona by boys and girls, •lo is sometimes necessary to go over the plants several times, for the Beeds do not •U ripon at once- This is an advantage, sod enables tho harvesting to bo done by instalment*. th. aß interfering less with tha other work of the farm. The fruit or •. poaa are then spread em) on t cloth in a

By MARA.

Nones: to READEBS.-Letters on farming uubjecte are Invited and answers will bo given to any queries which may bo submitted.

sunny place, where the 'pods' open and the seed is ahed. The whole is fehen passed through a winnowing machine to clean the seed which is sufficiently dry to be bagged and stored in a dry place till sold to the oil preeser. The average yield is about 25 bushels (of 561b) per acre, bub 50 and even 60 bushels have been grown in America, and the seeds yield from 40 to 50 per cent. of oil. The price of eeed in England is said to be 12s 6d per cwh. The quantity of castor oil imported into New Zealand during 1894 for use by the general public was, in bulk, 54.858 gallons, valued ab £7,946—th0 duby on this is 6d per gallon; in bottles, 2,107 dozen pints, valued at £568, paying a duty of 15 per cent, ad valorem, In addition to which, 6,387 gallons, valued ab £618, was imported for Governmenb use, and on this no duty is payable. Ib will thus be seen that there is a considerable local demand. Surely we should bo able to ab leasb eupply our colonial market. This would nob only retain in tho country the large sums annually epenb in oil, bub also find increased employment, ab any rabe during part of the year, for the boys and girls of our rural population. England in 1893 imported £192,701 worth, principally from India. Large quantities are also produced in America, and in the countries along the Mediterranean: ib has often been said thab this planb is poisonous to stock, and bhab in Australia bobh horses and cattle have died as a resulb of eating ib. Moreover, ib was stated in evidence before the Victoria Royal Commission on vegetable produces, that 'the eating of two or three of the dry eeeds is deadly, inducing "Asiatic cholera. 1" Therefore children should be warned. Stock, however, will nob touch the castor-oil planb unless driven by hunger. In tbe ' Analyst,' 1892, ib is stated that 1 per cent, of castoroil seed in cattle-food is sufficient to cauee harm, and even death. Taranaki Stock Markets, —Under data of Hawera, May 2nd, Mr Newton King reports aa follows :—Cattle: At Stratford, on Tuesday there was a smaller muster of stock than usual, the very rough weather of the preceding day having prevented mustering. Most of the young cattle wore looking rough, and there was little competition excepb for anything strong and of good quality. There were several buyers for big bullocks, bub none of this class offered. 2 to 2| year steers were quite neglected. Calves made 163 ; yearlings, 25s to 30s; heifers, in calf, £2 9s; 18 to 20 month steers, £2 Is; store cows, 318 to £2 Is ; fat do, £3; heifer in calf, 33s to £2 18s. Ab Waiwakaiho. on Thursday, there was a full muster, with good attendance, und bidding was fairly active for young cattle of good quality, and moat of this line sold at satisfactory prices ; 2 bo 2£ year steers were nob in demand, and most of these were passed in ; calves made 10s to 21s ; mixod yearlings, 31b ; 2 year gteers, £2 0s 6d to £2 5« ; 3 year do., £3 5s ; springinp heifers. £3 to £3 10a ; cows, £3 7s 6d to £6 2a 6rl; store cowe, 12a |to £2 03 ; fab do., £3 to £3 10s. i Agricultural Chemistry.—Tho Department of Agriculture has issued in Damphlob form a course of lectures on agricultural chemistry delivered by Professor James G. Black, of the OtagoUniversity. Tho subjects dealt with are:—Analysis of coil, atmosphere and tho atmospheric food of plant?, carbonate of potash from merino wool, drainage and its effects on land, iron as a manure, lime, magnesia in soil, plant? and manure?, nitrogen, phosphorus, potash salts, rotation of crops, eilica in plants, soda ealts, stassfurt potash palbs, sulphur and eulphuric acid, a practical demonstration at Kempbborne and Prosser's New Zealand Drug Co.'s works at Burnside, Dunedin. Although, speaking generally, the subject is treated from too chemical a standpoint for the average farmer to geb a thorough grip of ib, the pamphlet contains a great many practical hints which ib would be to the advantage of every one connected with agricultural pursuits to know, and despite the frequent übb of chemical formula tbe matter 18 pub very clearly. THE POULTRY YARD. Poultry and Eggs for Market and EXPORT;—A pamphlet on the above subject, by J. A. Henderson, which contains a great deal of valuable information, has been printed and issued by tho Government. The objects, opinions, and scope of the work are seb forth in tbe introduction as follows :—• The pamphlet is intended as a handy book of reference for/farmers and others, showing them improved methods of poultry-keeping, co that they may derive a present benefit, and also be getting into a position to take advantage of foreign markets when these have been made fully available. Directions for preparation and shipment of frozen poultry, based on Melbourne experience, and also hints as to the Bhipmenb of eggs, are appended. The difference of the seasons ,in New Zealand and Englaud will enable us fco find a good market in London for both poultry and eggs ab times of the year when we can moßb conveniently produce them. Our climate is well suited to the industry, and grain, etc., for food can be grown very cheaply. Raising fowla for export is nob thought to be a very payable industry by itself. Ib should be combined with egg-production, and so combined will pay beeb when mado to take a place aa parb of a system of mixed farming' The formation of societies for the improvomenb of poultry, as regards egc-laying and table qualities, ia strongly to be recommended.1

The Austka&asian Poultry Guide.—A copy of a trook by James J. McCue, & practical breeder of many years experience in Australia, bearing the above bible, has been forwarded us. The author in his preface atates thab ib haß been his endeavour to ' crush' all the information ho dould manage into the space laid oub for the work, and there ia no doubt hut thab ho has succeeded admirably in this, a vast amount ot practical information being gob into the 115 pages which the work comprises. About half the book is taken up with hints in connection with tho management. The mosb important chapters of this section are.- ---' How to Begin,' ' The Breed to Start with,' ♦Breeding,' 'How to Rear Chickens,' ' Doctoring1 Fowls or Chickens ' and 'Causa and Cure of Diseasos.' In the other part the various breeds are clearly described, their peculiarities and special features carefully noted, and they are also well illustrated. The book is thoroughly practical throughout, and should be obtained by all amateurs and beginners. The publishers are Messrs George Robertson and Co., of Melbourne and Sydney, who issue ib in their ' Amateur Series.1