THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1213, 31 May 1895, Page 7

THE GARDEN.

CASTOR BEANS A REMEDY FOR ANIMAL PESTS. (E. M. Lucas, in the American Agriculturist ) Moles dislike castor beans, as do gophers, and they have both given ray garden a wide berth since castor beans were planted, although they had previously destroyed many valuable bulbs and plants. In 1893 moles were unusually troublesome. A few beans were tucked away in my bulb bed, a favourite haunt for moles, others in the rose border, some near the violet bed, and wherever the pests were most troublesome. A few moles had runs here and there, and I at once dropped, a bean in their path. Last year I planted only a few beans to keep them at bay, and not a mole has been ssen. My moss roses were being laid in a state of devastation by the red spider, but since the castor vines have overshadowed the bushes this tiny pest has also absented himself; therefore I believe it detests the castor beans as all the animal world seems to do. A

noted horticulturist writes:—"There is hardly an instance in natural history of a plant so universally detested by the animal world as the castor oil plant. No sort of bird, beast, or creeping thing will touch it. It seeras to be a rank poison to all the animal world. Even a goat will starve before biting a leaf, and a horse will sniff at it and turn up his upper lip, as though it had the most detestable odour on the face of the earth. Army worms and the locusts will pass it by, though they nny eat every other green thing in s'glr. Even the tobacco worm will refuse to be fed on its leaves." As an exterminator of moles and gophers, I never saw their equal. I never had healthier or better looking plants with so little trouble as since I discovered the virtues of the castor bean.

Castor beans form beautiful and stately nlantf. They thrive in sunshine or shade, and in any kind of soil, but like all plants respo"d quickly to good treatment. Some varieties attain a height of 15ft; others grow three and four feet <aM. They are very decorative and rapid groxying plants, with their large palmate leaves, beautifully veined and coloured, and gorgeous-hued seed pod?. They are extra fine for subtropical effects, and will transform any

dim corner into a bower of beauty. Four varieties are especially handsome, and when grouped together are very effective. Ilicinus sanguineus has fresh green foliage, veined with dark red stalks and stems, and very brilliant red seed pods. 11. cambogiensis has dark bronze like leaves and seed pods, the stems almost black. R. macrocarpus has almost white leaves, with dark stalks and pods. K. gibsoni is of dwarf habit, has very dark, purplish red stalks and leaves. These plants are worthy of a place .in. any garden, not only for their beauty but for their great beneficial properties.