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Investigations made by the Division of Chemistry of this Department have shown 

 that sunflower seed is not used for the expression of oil in this country, but is ex- 

 tensively used for poultry feeding and for the food of horses and cattle not in the best 

 of health. The admixture of sunflower seed with the ordinary food of these animals 

 tends to restore them to health, and puts their systems into excellent condition. 

 There is in this country quite a large commerce in sunflower seed used for this 

 purpose. 



Careful investigation made by the Division of Chemistry has failed to find any 

 factory in this country in which the oil is expressed from these seeds. Experi- 

 mentally, the Division of Chemistry has demonstrated that this seed yields an 

 excellent oil, suited for table uses, in the replacement of olive and cottonseed oil. 

 Dr. Wiley, the Chemist of the Department, has informed me that he has tried this 

 oil, and has found it to be of most excellent quality. It is believed that eventually 

 the industry of making oil from the sunflower seeds will be developed in this country. 



The Chemist of the Department is now preparing a bulletin on the subject, in 

 which detailed information of which a summary has just been given, will be con- 

 tained. 



I think that the Appraiser of the port of New York can safely be guided by the 

 above statements, inasmuch as I think the large quantities of sunflower seed im- 

 ported into this country are used for poultry food and for the feeding of cattle. 

 I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



JAMES WILSON, Secretary. 



SUMMARY. 



(1) The sunflower is a plant which can be grown successfully over 

 large areas in the United States. 



(2) From the chemical analysis of the whole plant it is evident that 

 it is a crop making a considerable drain on the elements of soil fertili- 

 zers; therefore it should be cultivated with proper attention to fertil- 

 ization in order that the fertility of the soil be maintained. 



(3) One of the most valuable constituents of the plant is the oil 

 which exists in large quantities in the seeds. This oil is formed by 

 direct synthesis in the process of growth, and does not diminish to any 

 great extent the fertility of the soil. On the other hand, the protein 

 matter which exists in large quantities in the seeds is derived almost 

 exclusively from the nitrogenous elements in the soil or added in fer- 

 tilizers. There is no evidence that the sunflower plant has the property 

 possessed by the Leguminosae of assimilating free nitrogen by means 

 of symbiotic organisms attached to its roots. 



(4) The economic production of the sunflower plant is now confined 

 almost exclusively to Russia, where it is an agricultural industry of 

 considerable importance. 



(5) In the United States the sunflower is grown as an ornament and 

 for the production of seeds which are used chiefly for poultry and bird 

 feeding, and for condimental and medicinal properties with farm 

 animals. 



(6) The oil of the sunflower seed is not produced commercially in 

 the United States. It is very palatable and makes, without refining, 



