156 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



Helianthus animus, Linne.* 



The Sun-blower. Peru. This tall, showy, and large-flowered 

 annual is not without industrial importance. As much as fifty 

 bushels of seeds, or rather seed-like nutlets, have been obtained 

 from an acre under very favourable circumstances, and as much as 

 fifty gallons of oil can be pressed from such a crop. The latter can 

 be used not only for machinery but even as one of the best for the 

 table ; also used for superior toilet-soaps and for painting ; it 

 belongs to the series of drying-oils. Otherwise the seeds afford an 

 excellent fodder for fowl ; also used for cakes. The leaves serve 

 for fodder and the seeds as a substitute for coffee, according to Pro- 

 fessor Keller. The large flower-heads important as yielding much 

 honey. The stalks furnish a good textile fibre, and the blossoms 

 yield a brilliant lasting yellow dye. About six pounds of seeds 

 are required for an acre. The plant likes calcareous soil. 

 Important also for raising quickly vegetation around fever 

 morasses, the absorbing and exhaling power of this plant being very 

 large (Dr. v. Hamm). A Sun-Flower, according to Lacoppidan, 

 will exhale 1 J Ib. of water during a hot day. Several North 

 American species deserve rural culture. The return from a Sun- 

 Flower field is attained within a few months. 



Helianthus tuber osus, Linne. * 



Brazil. Sun-Flower Artichoke. Inappropriately passing under 

 the name " Jerusalem Artichoke," instead of " Girasol Artichoke." 

 The wild state, according to Professor Asa Gray, seems the North 

 American H. doronioides, Lamarck. The tubers are saccharine 

 and serve culinary purposes. As a fodder they increase the milk 

 of cows to an extraordinary degree. The foliage serves well also 

 as fodder. The plant is propagated from the smallest but undi- 

 vided tubers, placed like potatoes, but at greater interstices. The 

 root is not susceptible to frost. The plant would be valuable for 

 Alpine regions. The yield is as large as that of potatoes, with less 

 labour, and continues from year to year in fairly-treated land unin- 

 terruptedly and spontaneously. The stem is rich in textile fibre. 

 The percentage of crystalline sugar is largest during the cold season, 

 namely, 5-6 per cent. During the summer the starch-like inulin 

 prevails. This plant can only be brought to full perfection in a soil 

 rich in potash. 



Helichrysum lucidum, Henckel. (H. bracteatum, Willdenow.) 



Throughout the greater part of Australia. The regular cultivation 

 of this perennial herb would be remunerative to supply its ever- 

 lasting flowers for wreaths, just like those of H. orientale, Tourne- 

 f ort, from Caiidia, are largely grown and sold in South Europe to pro- 

 vide grave-wreaths. Furthermore, the lovely Helipterum Manglesii, 



