SUNFLOWER- SEED OIL. 



417 



aud in the autumn about August. The quantity of seed required per 

 acre is 14 lbs. It may be either drilled or broadcast ; if drilled, the 

 rows must be one foot apart. If sown early, two crops may frequently 

 be obtained in one year, as it is fit for harvesting in three months after 

 the plant makes its first appearance. The seed is ripe as soon as the 

 pods change from a green to a golden colour. Care must then be 

 taken to cut it before it becomes too ripe, or much seed will be lost. 



When cut with a sickle, it is bound up in sheaves and stacked in 

 the same manner as wheat. It is then put into a barn, and threshed 

 out like other corn. The oil is useful for burning in lamps, for 

 dressing woollen goods, the manufactui'e of soap, lubricating machi- 

 nery, and for painters. It is said also to be beneficial in asthma. 



SuxFLOWER-SEED OiL (HeliantJius annuiis). — The highly ornamental 

 and extensive genus of plants to which this belongs derives its scien- 

 tific name from Jielios, sun, and antlios, a flower, on account of the 

 brilliant colour of the flower, and from the erroneous idea, pro- 

 pagated by poets and others, that the flowers always turned towards 

 the sun ; hence, also, the French name tournesol. It appears to possess 

 far more profitable qualities than have been hitherto supposed, and may 

 be cultivated with advantage and applied to many useful purposes. 

 The gi'eat variety of valuable properties belonging to the sunflower 

 seed has been more neglected than any other, when it ought to be paid 

 greater attention to. No plant produces such fine honey and wax, 

 and when the flower is in blossom bees abound on it. A few years 

 ago one or two farmers cleared nearly 40Z. by their honey alone. The 

 produce will be according to the nature of the soil and mode of 

 cultivation. 



The sunflower has been long largely grown in parts of Eussia for 

 its oil, and the German farmers have lately taken uj) the cultivation. 

 The plant grows readily in most climates. From the stalks of the 

 plant the Kussians manufactiu*e a valuable potash, and the residue, 

 after extracting the oil, is used for feeding cattle, made into oilcake. 

 The leaves go to manure the soil. 



The quantity of seed is much increased by dwarfing the plants; 

 the best manure is said to be old mortar broken up. The plants 

 should be kept clear and free from weeds; the quantity of seed 

 required is about 6 lbs. per acre. They should have sufficient 

 interval between them for exposure to the sun, as under such circum- 

 stances they become larger and more fully stored with seed. The oil 

 extracted from the seed is said to be superior to both almond and 

 olive oil for table use, and for use in woollen factories, making soap, 

 and candles, and for lighting purposes. The leaves have been manu- 

 factured into cigars, possessing, it is stated, pectoral properties which 

 might prove more efficacious than stramonium. The blossoms furnish 

 a brilliant yellow dye which stands well. 



The marc, or refuse of 50 bushels of seed, after the oil has been 

 expressed, made into cakes, will produce 1500 lbs., and the stalks, 

 when burnt for alkali, will give 10 per cent, of potash. The green 

 leaves of the sunflower, when dried and burnt to powder, make ex- 



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