238 TROPICAL AGRICULTURE 



The flowers are readily injured by rain storms which may 

 occur after they are fully opened. It has been learned that 

 the flowers must be picked as soon as they begin to be brightly 

 colored. Any delay may allow a fading of the dyestuff in the 

 petals. The average yield of dry flowers is about 80 pounds 

 per acre. 



SAFFRON 



The dyestuff saffron is obtained from the stigmas and tips 

 of the styles of Crocus sativus. This form of Crocus was 

 apparently native to Greece and Asia Minor. At any rate, it 

 has been cultivated in those countries since the earliest times. 

 The plant is a perennial with a rounded bulb and large hand- 

 some bluish or lavender flowers. Large quantities of saffron 

 are produced in Persia and Egypt. The plant thrives in 

 cold countries. As is well known, it is grown in the United 

 States as an ornamental, but a good quality of saffron has 

 been produced in Pennsylvania. The saffron crocus is a fall 

 bloomer and a different variety from the spring blooming 

 ornamental. The labor cost of producing saffron, however, is 

 too high for the encouragement of this industry in the United 

 States. As already indicated, official saffron includes the stig- 

 mas and tips of the styles of the saffron flowers. These parts 

 are clipped off as soon as the flowers open and are dried in 

 the sun or by the aid of artificial heat. It requires S pounds 

 of fresh stigmas to make i pound of dried saffron. The 

 present supply of saffron comes largely from Trieste, Spain, 

 Greece, and Turkey. Saffron is used both as a medicine and 

 as a dyestuff. It is readily soluble in water and therefore not 

 suitable for use on fabrics. It is perfectly harmless, however, 

 and has been widely used in coloring food products. 



