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Sesame. (Sesamum orientale) . 



A field of sesame, carefully pulled out and stacked 

 up. The pods of the sesame plant do not all ripen at once 

 and v/hen fully ripe they open and allow seeds to fall out 

 to a considerable extent, making the crop a very difficult 

 one to handle. If a variety could be found which kept its 

 pods closed up, as the opium poppy does its head, it would 

 be a tremendous gain to all sesame growers. The oil ex- 

 pressed from the seeds is among the most important of food 

 products of China and always commands a good price. The 

 seeds themselves are made into candies in the nature of 

 peanut brittle; and are also baked on thin cakes giving 

 the latter a rich, nutty flavor. Photographed by F. N. 

 Meyer, near Pang Kwan chen, Shensi, China, Sept. 3, 1914, 

 No. 13180. 



