216 



POPULAR ECONOMIC BOTANY. 



first importation was exhibited in the Liverpool collection 

 of raw produce^ at the Great Industrial Exhibition ; it was 

 presented by T. B. Blackburne^ Esq.^ merchant^ of Liverpool. 

 Erom an examination of that specimen^ and some lots sub- 

 sequently imported^ besides information from other sources, 

 the author is induced to believe that it is a precipitate of 

 colouring matter from the Quercitron bark, formed in the 

 tan-pits of the American tanners, w^ho endeavour to keep 

 its manufacture secret. It is a greenish-yellow powder, and 

 is said to give a fine olive-yellow colour to cloth. About 

 170 tons have been imported during the last two years. 



Sapploweu. — The dried flowers of Carthamus tinctorius 

 (Plate XIY. fig. 71) (Nat. Ord. Comjoositd) pressed into 

 little cakes. (Plate XIV. fig. 72.) 



The Carthamus is an annual plant, which has bright yel- 

 low composite flowers, somewhat similar to marigolds, about 

 as large as a crown-piece in circumference. The florets are 

 plucked out, pressed into small cakes, which are dried and 

 packed into bales, weighing about two hundredweight each. 

 Safflower is used for three different purposes; first, for 

 adulterating the more valuable article saffron, this how- 

 ever is a very insignificant application; secondly, it is 

 largely consumed in the manufacture of rouge, and gives 



