March 1, 1864] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



SOME ECONOMIC USEB OF NUTS AND SEEDS. 343 



give a not unpleasant flavour. This spirituous extract, whether made 

 by infusion or distillation, when sweetened with sugar, is the too famous 

 cordial called noyeau (from the French noyau, a nut). This liquor con- 

 tains a notable proportion of prussic acid, and is probably the most 

 noxious of all the spirituous compounds. The kernel of the nut of stone 

 fruit is mucilaginous, and might be malted, but in most oi those fruits 

 it is of a doubtful character, and in some it is believed to be absolutely 

 poisonous. Nevertheless, these kernels, as well as their shells, are occa- 

 sionally made use of for the purpose of imparting an aroma, which is 

 sought after by connoisseurs. The stones of apricots have of late 

 years been collected at Damascus, and sent to Beirut for ex- 

 portation, probably for the sake of the prussic acid they con- 

 tain. In 1862, about 200 cantars, or 110,000lbs., were exported, at 

 a cost of 8|- piastres per rottol, or a little under 2d. per lb. More than 

 double that quantity was exported in 1861. 



Under the names of Mahleb, or Melub, the fragrant kernels of Prunus 

 Mahaleb, Linn., strung as neckiaces, are much valued by the women of 

 Scinde and other parts of India. They are also used by the Turkish 

 bakers to sprinkle over bread. 



Cherry and other fruit stones are often seen carved and highly orna- 

 mented, and made into rosaries, &c, evidencing the patience and skill 

 of the workman who has laboured on them. I have many of the hard 

 stones of the date plum, and other indigenous fruits, very beautifully 

 carved by the Chinese and Japanese. 



Several kinds of hard brown beans have lately been brought into use 

 for making bracelets and other ornaments. Their plainness and mono- 

 tony is relieved by gilt or steel studs and settings, and small beads inter- 

 mingled with ornamental pendants. The large horse-eye bean, a species 

 of Mucuna, is really ornamental and curious, when mounted for brace- 

 lets. The large brown seeds of the sword-bean (Entada gigalobium 

 and E. Purscelha), are made into spoons, small coin-cases, scent- 

 bottles, &c. 



"Walnut shells are frequently mounted with hingea, and used as the 

 ornamental cases for miniature articles, such as scissors, thimbles, &c. 

 The Limerick gloves are packed in walnut shells, while rings, jewels, 

 and other small presents are often disguised in this rough case as an 

 agreeable surprise. 



The shells of the cocoa-nut are in large demand over India for the 

 hookah pipes used by the natives. They constitute the common water 

 dipper of many countries, and are used for oil lamps, water bottles, and 

 goblets. In Ceylon, and other parts, they are often elegantly carved, and 

 formed into fancy articles, such as small card baskets, sugar basins, 

 and mounted in silver as drinking cups. Special virtues have been 

 attributed to such cups, they are supposed to give an anti-apoplectic 

 quality to intoxicating liquors. In Siam the shell serves as a measure 

 for liquids. The capacity is graduated by the number of cowry shells 



