368 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



distinguished in commerce as Canary, Cape de Verd, 

 and Madeira ; the first being the best, and the last 

 the worst in quality. 



The quantity retained for home consumption in 

 the year 1830 was about 700 cwt. 



An inferior colour is prepared from another species 

 of lichen, called Lichen perellus, which grows on the 

 rocks of Auvergne. 



A beautiful red colour is obtained from the flowers 

 of the Safflower, or Carthamus tinctorius. This 

 plant is a native of Egypt and the warmer climates of 

 Asia. It is likewise cultivated in the Levant and 

 the southern parts of Europe. The Chinese have 

 long known its use, and produce from it their finest 

 red. The colour called by them bing, which is used 

 by the Japanese ladies as a cosmetic, is made from 

 it, and kept in little round porcelain cups. " With 

 this," says Thunberg, " they paint, not their cheeks, 

 as the Europeans do, but their lips. * * * If the paint 

 is very thin, the lips appear red ; but if it be laid on 

 thick, they become of a violet hue, which is here con- 

 sidered as the greatest beauty*." 



We obtain it from the East Indies and from Tur- 

 key, that from India being considered the most va- 

 luable. It is cultivated with success in the gardens 

 of France, but not as an article of commerce. 



The Carthamus tinctorius is an annual plant, 

 with an upright, firm, smooth stem, of a colour ap- 

 proaching to white, and of about three feet in height; 

 this stem is divided at top into several branches, 

 bearing leaves of an oval form, and edged with small 

 spines. Each of the branches is terminated by a large 

 flower-head, composed of several flowerets, all of 

 which are furnished with stamina and pistils. The 

 flowers are of a deep red colour. This plant is pro- 

 * Travels in Japan.' 



