



CULTIVATION OF PLANTS. 



Among the various plants which may be cultivated by the 

 farmer as oilplants, are all the species of the Rmssica family 



the Sinapis, or mustard genus the Raphanus, or radish 

 genus, with many others of the natural order of cruciferea. Of 

 the genus Sinapis, either the white or the black species may be 

 sown. The black mustard, Sinapis nipu, is the species usually 

 cultivated for that well known and useful condiment mustard. 

 But the white species, Sinapis alba, being more productive in 

 pods, and less liable to injury from insects, is better calculated 

 for the production of oil. The Raphanus, or radish, is equally 

 suited to yield oils as the mustard. It should be cultivated in 

 rows, and sufficient room given to it. It flowers and bears 

 seeds for a long time during the season, but no difficulty exists 

 in knowing the proper period for gathering. 



The Small or Field Poppy, as well as the maw seed, a 

 variety of the garden poppy, is extensively cultivated on the 

 continent of Europe and to some small extent in various parts 

 of our country, as affording an oil well suited for domestic uses 



it being esteemed in domestic economy next to that of the 

 olive. The soil for the poppy requires to be well pulverized 

 and manured. In Flanders this point is especially attended to. 

 It frequently succeeds rape, in the rotation, manure being ap- 

 plied to both. It is cultivated in rows, sown in April, and the 

 plants thinned out to six or eight inches distance from each 

 other; kept free of weeds till they begin to run. The capsules 

 as they ripen are gathered by hand, and dried in the sun. 



The Sun-flower Hdianthus annuus is a native of Ame- 

 rica, easily cultivated, and familiar to us all as one of our 

 most majestic and beautiful garden flowers. Its value as an 

 oil plant has been known for at least a century, yet strange to 

 say, very little care or systematic attention has been devoted 

 to it. Of its value no doubt is entertained; and that it may 

 be cultivated to a profit, is certainly as clear. The "Farmers' 

 Assistant" which is considered as high authority, says, that 

 the seeds of the sun-flower afford an oil equal to that of the 

 olive-tree; and that seventy bushels of seed may be raised 

 to the acre. The seeds are good for poultry during the winter 

 season. The editor further states, but not on his own au- 

 thority, that a "bushel of the seed will produce a gallon of 

 oil, as fine as the best imported Florence, and may be obtained 

 at any time from the seeds, quite soft, bland, and fresh, and 

 that the mass remaining after pressing out the oil, is of excel- 

 lent use to feed hogs, poultry," &c. There are various other 

 uses to which the plant may be appropriated. 



In France, and other- foreign countries, the stems are em- 

 ployed for fuel, pea-sticks, &c., and the leaves for fodder. A 

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