FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 399 



making poultices. — ' Treasury of Botany,' Lindley 

 and Moore. 



Distribution : Tropical Africa. 



Gingelly, Sesame, Til or Benne Oil plant {Sesaniuin 

 indicum, DC). — Annual, two to four feet high, 

 cultivated in warm countries for the sake of the seed, 

 from which a valuable oil is obtained, known in 

 commerce under the above names. It is commonly 

 reckoned that an acre requires -jV of a bushel of seed, 

 and yields i-i- "to 2 bushels, occupying the land for 

 about three to four months. When the crop is ripe 

 it is cut down and stacked for seven days ; it is then 

 sun-dried for three days, being collected into a heap 

 at night, and kept in a heap on alternate days between 

 the sun-drying. This causes the bursting of the pods 

 and the liberation of the seeds. The latter are then 

 subjected to frequent washings in cold water and 

 subsequent exposure to the sun, with the object of 

 bleaching ; the oil is then extracted by pressure. In 

 India the common yield is two quarts of oil from 

 nine pounds of seed. The oil is used for cooking, 

 anointing the body and hair, in medicine, for absorbing 

 the fugitive odours of plants, and for illumination. 

 In Europe the superfine quality largely replaces 

 olive-oil for domestic purposes, and the other grades 

 are employed by soap-makers. In some parts of 

 North America the leaves are used in infusion as a 

 demulcent ; they also serve for the preparation of 



