' 
178 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
Honduras palm. The nuts are about the size of the egg of the common 
hen, and grow in bunches containing six hundred to eight hundred 
seeds. The kernel tastes somewhat similar to the cocoa-nut, but is far 
more oleaginous, and the oil extracted from itis superior. It congeals 
at a temperature of 72°. It has been used for making composition 
candles, and is highly esteemed for that and other purposes. 
Nahor oil is obtained from the seeds of Mesua ferrea, (Guttifere,) the 
iron-wood of tropical Asia. The oil is used as a lamp oil, and as a heal- 
ing application to sores. The flowers of this plant are highly fragrant, 
and form an article of trade in East India bazars. 
Hekune oil is pressed from the seed-kernels of Aleuwrites triloba, 
(Euphorbiacee,) the candle-nut tree of the Polynesian Islands. The 
kernels, when dried and stuck on a rod, are used by the inhabitants as 
a substitute for candles. They are also used as an article of food, 
and resemble walnuts in taste. When pressed, they yield a large pro- - 
portion of pure, palatable oil, which is uséd as a drying oil for paints, 
and is known as country walnut oil. It is also used in the Sandwich 
Islands as a mordant for their vegetable dyes. The root of the tree 
affords a brown dye. 
Castor oil.—This ‘vell-known oil is expressed from the seeds of the 
Ricinus communis, (Huphorbiacee,) a native of India, but now widely 
distributed and cultivated in various parts of the world, but nowhere 
more successfully than in this country. There are many varieties in 
cultivation, chiefly as ornamental plants, on account of the size and 
beauty of their foliage. Many of these have also very large seeds, but 
for medicinal purposes the small seeds of the species and of some dwarf 
varieties are considered to yield the best oil, although for coarse oils for 
burning, for lubricating machinery, and for use in veterinary practice, the 
larger seeds are more profitable. The uses to which this oil is applied 
are constantly increasing, and its consumption is very great. In trop- 
ical countries the Ricinus grows to a tree-like size, while in temperate 
climates it is an annual. 
Bay or laurel oil.—The classical plant, the bay, the branches of whieh 
formed the crowns placed upon the heads of ancient heroes, is the Laurus 
nobilis, (Lauracew,) an evergreen tree, native of the south of Europe. 
The leaves have an agreeable aromatic fragrance, and are used by cooks 
and confectioners. Imported figs are usually packed with the leaves. 
From the fruit a butter-like substance is expressed, known in commerce 
as oil of bays, which has been used as an external stimulant, and in veter- 
inary medicine. ; 
Olive oil_—_The olive tree, Olea Huropea, (Olcacec,) is among the oldest 
of cultivated plants, so old that its native country is not definitely known, 
the prevailing opinion being that it is indigenous to both Asia and Eu- 
rope. The olive tree seldom exceeds 20 feet in height, is of a spreading 
habit, and very long lived. There are several well-marked varieties, each 
having its individual peculiarities similar to the differences of varieties 
to be found in apple and pear orchards. -Olive oil is obtained by pressing 
the fruit, for which purpose it is passed through a mill with crushing- 
stoves, arranged so as to bruise the flesh without breaking the kernel. 
The pulp is placed in bags made of rushes, and by means of a gentle 
pressure the best or virgin oilis obtained. Thisis frequently still further 
purified by being filtered through cotton., A second and afterward a 
third quality are run off, the first by moistening the residuum with boiling 
water, and then erushing the stones, boiling the mass, and pressing it 
gain. When the fruit is not sufficiently ripe, the fresh oil has a bitterish 
taste, and when too ripe it is fatty. 
