OILS AND FATS, ETC. 341 



oil from the cocoa-nut, with which the Pomotau Islands are covered. 

 The export of this oil, which now reaches 600 tons, might easily he 

 doubled in two years, and increased to several thousand tons in ten 

 years. Chili consumes about onedialf of the whole quantity produced, 

 and the rest is shipped to Liverpool, Havre, and Bordeaux, either direct 

 or by the way of Valparaiso. The price is about 750 francs the ton. 

 This commerce has of late years greatly altered the affairs of the country, 

 and now supplies freights to many vessels. 



The Ground Not {Arachis hypogcea), a native of America, is now 

 grown on a large scale in India, and a considerable quantity of the oil 

 expressed from the seed is exported. A special article on this oil-plant 

 appears in the present number. 



Koosum ob Safflower Oil (Carthamus tinctorius, Linn.), is em- 

 ployed for burning, and has been suggested for alimentary uses. 



Castor Oil. — A single species only of Riciuus is usually recognised, 

 of which there are two admitted varieties, one with large and one with 

 small seeds. It would appear, however, that these two varieties are 

 perpetuated by culture, and the marked characters would seem to 

 warrant the formation of two distinct species. If extracted cold a 

 colourless^ oil is obtained, while the application of heat darkens the 

 oil and renders it bitter and more fitted for burning in lamps than use 

 in medicine. A large commerce is carried on in this oil from India. 



From Martinique the following varieties of seeds were sent : — 

 Ricinus sanguineus, rutilans, Americanus, lividus, speclabilis, viridus. 



The Cashew Nut contains in its pericarp an oily viscous juice, of 

 an acrid and caustic character. The kernel, on the contrary, is white, 

 oleaginous, and of an agreeable flavour, and is eaten in the place of 

 the almond. It furnishes an oil which is considered superior to olive 

 oil 



The seeds of the white poppy in India furnish about 36 per cent, of 

 oil, which is useful for food purposes. In Europe, from the seeds of 

 the black poppy is extracted an oil known under the name of 

 " oeillette." 



The seeds of the Cucurbita maxima and of Cucumis melo and sativa 

 yield a bland oil, which could be used for alimentary purposes ; but as 

 these plants are cultivated for their fleshy fruits, it is not likely that 

 their seeds will be largely available for oil purposes. 



Galba Oil (Calophyllum calaba). — The nuts of this tree, very abund- 

 ant in the West Indies, furnish a good burning oil. 



Aoura Grease (Astrocaryum vulgare), is from a tree very common 

 in the forests of Guiana and the island of Cayenne. The oil is 

 obtained from the fleshy pericarp of the fruit, which is macerated 

 some time after being submitted to the action of a pestle to dis- 

 engage the nuts. The pulp or mass is then left a couple of days and 



