VEGETABLE OILS. 45 



the flax plant (Linum), grown in the British Islands, America, and the Continents 

 of Europe, and of India. It is a common article of food to the serfs of Eussia, and is 

 regarded as the highest luxury by the Greenlanders and other inhabitants of polar 

 climes ; but it is chiefly used in the arts. It is prepared by distillation for drying, and 

 then is fitted for the preparation of paint. A large proportion of this seed is grown in 

 England and Ireland; but it is chiefly imported from Russia: no less than 482,813 

 quarters out of a total importation of 626,495 quarters of the seed having been received 

 from that country in the year 1850. It is considered a profitable crop, and is now 

 much cultivated in Ireland. The pressed seeds from which the oil has been partly 

 extracted, constitute the oil-cake, much used in the fattening of cattle. 



Rape Oil is in like manner extracted from the rape-seed, which is the product of the 

 Brassica Napus, and other species of the cabbage genus of plants. It is considered to be 

 better adapted, when purified, for the lubrication of machinery than any other oil ; so 

 much so, that 90 to 100 gallons of it are yearly expended upon each locomotive railway 

 engine. It is also inferior to few, if any, oils in the production of artificial light in 

 lamps. Mr. Brotherton affirms that the English grown seed is to be preferred to that 

 imported from the Continents of Europe and India ; and so profitable is the crop, that 

 an acre of land will yield five quarters at 50s. per quarter, or 12 10s. yearly. It is, 

 however, probable that the foreign seed is equally good with the English production, 

 and that the inferior quality of the oil may be attributed to its careless and unskilful 

 preparation. The importation of rape-seed in 1850 was 29,490 quarters. 



Turnip-seed Oil (Brassica rapa) is very nearly allied to the rape-seed oil, and is 

 much employed in Egypt. 



Castor Oil is obtained from the seeds of the Ricinus commttnzs, which grows chiefly 

 in the East Indies and the United States of America. It is much used in medicine, but 

 more particularly in the arts, and the manufacture of pomatum. When intended to be 

 used medicinally, it is obtained by pressure without heat, and is then colourless and 

 tasteless, and will so remain for a lengthened period ; but that which is employed for 

 other purposes is obtained by heat and pressure, after the first or virgin oil has been 

 removed. This is slightly coloured, and has a rancid odour and taste, and conse- 

 quently realises but a very inferior price. The seeds do not grow to perfection in our 

 climate. The importation of the oil, in 1849, was 9,681 cwts., of which 9,315 cwts. 

 were obtained from our Indian possessions alone. 



Ootton Seed (Gossypium) yields a large quantity of oil on pressure ; but, on account 

 of the difficulty of removing its colouring and other impure matters it has been hitherto 

 but little used. The seeds are very abundant, and as large as orange seeds, and are 

 either wasted or iised as manure and for the fattening of pigs. It is believed that the oil 

 would be of great value if purified ; and it could be obtained in any quantity. The 

 seed is chiefly produced in America, Egypt, and India. "W s have seen immense quan- 

 tities of it rotting around ^every cotton plantation we have visited in the Southern 

 States of America. 



The Indian corn (Zea Mays'), or maize, in the State of New York, has been found to 

 contain a valuable oil. 



Ground-Nut Oil, obtained from the seed of the Arachis hypogcea, is used largely 

 in India, Malacca, and Java, both as food and fuel for lamps. It is a clear, pale yel- 

 low oil, and constitutes fully one-half the entire weight of the seed. 



Poppy Oil is produced from the seeds of the Opium Poppy, or Papaver somniferum, 

 whether grown in this or other countries. It is, however, chiefly produced in India, 



