NIGER SEED. 



415 



From Siam there was exported in 1875, 13,193 piculs of teel seed, 

 valued at 21,003Z. 



The commercial value of gingely seed in England is about 50s. to 

 54s. for white, and 45s. to 48s. for brown. 



Niger Seed. — Another oil-seed which enters into English commerce 

 from India for oil-crushing is the small black seed of Guizotia oleifera. 

 It is commonly cultivated in Mysore and the Deccan. The oil is 

 sweet-tasted, and is used for the same purpose as the gingely oil, 

 though an inferior oil. It is the common lamp oil of Upper India, 

 and is very cheap. The seed is sown in July or August, after the 

 first heavy rains, the fields being simply ploughed, neither weeding 

 nor manure being required. In three months from the time of sowing 

 the crop is cut, and after being placed in the sun for a few days the 

 seeds are threshed out with a stick. The produce is about two 

 bushels per acre. It is also called ram-til. It fetches in London 

 about 40s. per quarter. 



The following quantities of vegetable oils were made in the United 

 States, according to the Census returns for 1870 : 



Oils. 



Quantity. 



Valu.e. 





gallons. 



dollars. 





341,850 



690,700 





6,819,730 



7,239,773 



Cotton -seed 



2,490,883 



1,547,218 



Poppy-seed . . 



125 



375 



Kape-seed 



11,350 



13,870 





tons. 





Cotton oilcake 



6,750 



113,000 



The castor oil made was to the value of 593,000 dollars in 1850, 

 and 320,870 dollars in 1860. Cotton-seed oil was only made, in 

 1860, to the value of 741,000 dollars. 



Marseilles is the great entrepot for oil-seeds, as the appended table 

 proves, the quantities being in metrical quintals of 100 kilos., or 

 220 lbs. : 





Year. 



Oil-seeds. 



Yield of Oil. 



Oilcake. 







1871 

 1872 

 1873 

 1874 

 1875 



1,732,430 

 1,675,510 

 1,912,330 

 2,070,630 

 2,228,280 



608,960 

 561,890 

 617,390 

 660,000 

 792,240 



1,123,470 

 1,113,620 

 1,294,940 

 1,410,630 

 1,436,041 





The progressive increase in the importations of oil-seeds at Mar- 

 seilles has been remarkable, as is proved by the quinquennial returns, 

 in metrical quintals : 



1855 753,680 



1860 1,093,970 



1865 1,376,770 



1870 1,849,860 



1875 2,228,280 



