118 



SKETCHES OP RURAL AFFAIRS. 



obtained is small, with deep-green, shining, heart-shaped 

 leaves, and clusters of purplish flowers. The latter are 

 succeeded by large seed- vessels, also heart-shaped, covered 

 with bristles, and opening into two valves. These 

 contain a number of seeds, covered with a soft, ver- 



ANNOTTA PLANT. (Btxa Orellana.) 



milion-coloured rind, which furnishes the annotta of 

 commerce. The seeds are heaped up in water for 

 several weeks or months, and afterwards pressed, when 

 the colouring matter separates, and is afterwards pre- 

 cipitated by the water. 



This dye is tasteless and harmless, and is therefore 

 preferred to any other colouring matter in the prepa- 

 ration of butter and cheese. 



In some cheese-dairies an inferior butter, called whey- 

 butter, is made from the oily part of the milk skimmed 



