132 OIL-SEEDS AND OILS 



forms a valuable manure, and the stems and husks make 

 excellent fuel ; it is often used in sugar-cane factories. 



SOURCES or SUPPLY. The plant is supposed by some to be 

 a native of India, others maintain that Africa is its original 

 home. However that may be, it is found growing wild in the 

 forests and jungles of India, and it is from there that we 

 receive our chief supplies . In 1 9 1 7 we imported over 1 ,000,000 

 worth. The seeds are crushed at Hull, but there is a growing 

 tendency to crush the seeds in the mills of Bombay, and to 

 export the oil instead of the seeds. 



In the West Indies and Kenya Colony the plant grows 

 wild, and these countries and Rhodesia are probable sources 

 of future supply. 



COLZA OIL (from the Dutch Koolzaad, cabbage-seed) is made 

 from the seeds of two species of rape ; they are nearly allied 

 to the turnip, and all three species belong to the cabbage 

 tribe. In the east of England a good many are grown as food 

 for sheep, and some for their seeds, but most of our seeds we 

 import from India. Before the war Russia sent us large supplies, 

 and China and the Argentine a considerable amount. 



The oil is used for burning in lamps, lubricating machinery, 

 and for many other purposes. 



CASHEW NUTS (Anacardium occidentale). The oil from 

 these is now used in making Cashew Nut Butter and for other 

 purposes. The peculiarity of the tree is that its flower-stalk 

 is enlarged to the size and shape of a small pear ; it is of various 

 colours white or yellow or red. Beyond it occurs the ash- 

 coloured, kidney-shaped fruit, which consists of a hard shell 

 enclosing a pleasant-tasting kernel. When pressed the 

 kernels yield a yellow oil equal in value to almond oil, and 

 exceedingly nutritious. 



Between the outer and inner layers of the shell there is 

 a black oil which is used by the Andamans to colour and 

 preserve their nets ; it is very astringent and takes the skin 

 off the lips of any one who tries to crack the nut with his 

 teeth. The bark of the tree is also used for tanning. 



