268 



POPULAR ECONOMIC BOTANY. 



seeds are about the size of linseed^ but though flattened and 

 ovalj they are not thin at the edges like that seed ; their 

 colour is of various shades from ash-grey to deep brown; 

 the oil contained in them is in very large proportion. 



Niger Seed is the produce of Guizotia oleifera; the 

 Verhesina sativa of Lessing^ (Nat. Ord. Compositce) This 

 is another oil-seed from India^ where it is very extensively 

 cultivated. In that country the oil is variously named in 

 different localities^ as Eam4il^ Kala-til, Noog, Valisaloo 

 noonse^ etc. ; it is very thin^ contains but little stearine^ and 

 is useful in paintings and various other purposes requiring 

 a very thin oil. 700 or 800 quarters is about the greatest 

 amount of the seed received here in one year. The oil has 

 not been imported. 



Carthamus Seed. — The seeds of the Safl&ower plant, 

 Carthamus tinctorius (Nat. Ord. Compositd), These seeds 

 are about the size of small sunflower seeds, exactly the same 

 shape, and of a cream-white colour. In India, from whence 

 they come, the oil is expressed in large quantities, under the 

 name of Koosim OiL Considerable imports of the seed 

 have been received, and the oil is said to be in great de- 

 mand for making fancy soaps, but the Koosum oil has 

 never been imported. 



