THE TECHNOLOGIST. [March 1, 1864. 



342 SOME ECONOMIC USES OF NUTS AND SEEDS. 



It may be incidentally mentioned that the saponaceous principle 

 "saponine" exists in many other seeds and roots, &c, in the 

 legumes of Mimosa saponaria, Roxburgh, and of Mimosa absteryens, 

 in the leaves and root of Saponaria officinalis, in the root of Vaccaria 

 vulgaris, Agrostemma Githago, and Anagallis arvensis. Gypsophila stru- 

 tkium is used by the Spaniards for scouring instead of soap. It also 

 occurs in various species of Diantlius and Lychnis, in the bark of Quillaria 

 saponaria and Silene inflata, and the bark of the root of Monnina poly- 

 stachya, which, pounded and moulded into balls, is used for soap by the 

 Peruvians. The Phalangum homeridianum is the soap plant of California. 

 The bulb, when stripped of its husk and rubbed on wet clothes, 

 makes a thick lather, and smells not unlike new brown soap. 

 A considerable trade is carried on in some parts of India in the pods 

 of Acacia concinna, which resemble the soap-nut, and are used, like it, 

 for washing the head. They are also employed by the Hindoos for mark- 

 ing the forehead. 



The seeds of Achyranthes aspera, Linn., are administered by native 

 practitioners in India in hydrophobia, and in cases of snake bites, as well 

 as in ophthalmia and cutaneous diseases. 



The small brown seeds, something like apple pips, so commonly 

 used, when strung thickly together, for bracelets, fancy reticules, nets 

 for the hair, candlesticks, and other ornamental work, are the produce of 

 Desmanllms virgatus. They are frequently dyed black for effect. The 

 seeds of the pod of the Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua), are said to be the 

 original carat weights of the jewellers. They are now ground up as 

 cattle food, the pods being a large article of commerce. In the Portu- 

 guese settlement of Ambriz, Africa, the seeds of the custard-apple are 

 strung upon thread as necklaces. In the Kew Museum are rosaries 

 made of olive seeds and other stones. Immature oranges, when polished 

 in the lathe, make very pretty rosaries, with a pleasant aromatic odour, 

 and they are also sold in chemists' shops as " issue peas." Under the 

 name of orange berries they are used for flavouring curacoa. 



The seed of the tamarind is seldom made use of in this country, but 

 I have seen them strung as necklaces. In times of scarcity, the poor of 

 India eat them. After being washed and soaked for a few hours in 

 water, the dark outer skin comes off ; they are then boiled or fried. An 

 oil has also been obtained from the seed. The seed is sometimes given 

 by the Vytians in cases of dysentery, and also as a tonic. 



Date-stones have their uses. It is stated that in certain parts of 

 Egypt they are boiled to soften them, and the camels and cattle feed 

 upon them. The Chinese burn them, and they are said to enter into 

 the composition of China ink. In Spain they are burnt and pounded 

 for tooth-powder, and vegetable ivory nuts and others are also burnt for 

 the same purpose. 



The nuts and kernels of some stone-fruit, as apricots, peaches, prunes, 

 and cherries, and also bitter almonds, bruised and distilled with spirit, 



