OILS 271 



poppy (A. mexicana). This plant is quite widely grown in 

 the East Indies, where the oil. from the seed is used as a salad 

 oil and also for illuminating and lubricating purposes. In the 

 West Indies and Mexico it is used chiefly for the latter pur- 

 pose. The seeds yield about 35 per cent, of oil of an orange 

 color. The oil possesses an acrid flavor which apparently gives 

 it some value as a preventive against white ants and borers 

 in addition to its value as a paint oil and wood preservative. 



SEMI-DRYING OILS 



Cottonseed is one of the most important of the world's oil- 

 bearing seeds. The cultural systems used in growing cotton, 

 however, as well as the technical methods employed in the 

 preparation of cottonseed oil are so familiar to the American 

 reader and have been the subject of so many books and bul- 

 letins that it seems unnecessary to discuss the matter in this 

 connection to an extent commensurate with the commercial 

 importance of the product. Cottonseed oil is used largely 

 in compound lards and butter substitutes, while the lower 

 grades are employed in soap making and in adulterating paint 

 oils and for numerous other purposes. The oil is not satis- 

 factory as a lubricant. Cottonseed contains about 20 per cent, 

 of oil and about 13 per cent, of oil remains in the cottonseed 

 meal which is the chief by-product of cottonseed oil mills. 

 These figures indicate sufficiently the yield of oil obtained by 

 pressure. About 35 gallons of oil are secured from each ton 

 of seed. Cottonseed oil is held in the other material which 

 constitutes the seed much more firmly than is the case with 

 many other oil seeds. A significant comparison may be had 

 by considering the absolute content of oil and the percentage 

 of oil recovered under commercial conditions in the case of 

 cottonseed and the kukui nut. As just indicated, the original 

 cottonseed contains 20 per cent, of oil and the press cake 13 

 per cent, of oil. In sharp contrast with these figures we have 



