Oils and Fats. 



214 



[September, 1908. 



to 4 months to mature, according to the 

 variety of climate and soil. 



Whilst the sunflower is susceptible to 

 frost, it is singularly free from other 

 diseases. Damage is sometimes reported 

 by small birds and by surface cater- 

 pillars. The plant withstands drought 

 well. 



The Seeds. 

 There are three principal varieties now 

 cultivated in Russia, known by the 

 shape and size of the fruits (Achenes), 

 conventionally called seeds : one with 

 large white seeds which are said to 

 yield the largest amount of oil ; one 

 with small black seeds which are sweeter 

 and regarded as best for eating ; and an 

 intermediate from with striped seeds, 

 used both for eating and the production 

 of oil. 



The yield varies according to the 

 variety and the method of planting and 

 cultivation. In America the yield is 

 from 30 to 50 bushels— 900 lbs. to 1,500 lbs. 

 —to the acre. In the Cape Colony a yield 

 of 3,250 lbs. to the acre has been obtained. 

 In Natal in 1906 tbe average yield for the 

 whole Colony was 5 muids per acre. The 

 average yields of the more important 

 Magisterial Divisions of the Colony were 

 as follows: :— Lower Umzimkulu, 6-5 ; Alex- 

 andra, 4*8 ; Inanda, 7*0 ; Ixopo, 4'6 ; Um- 

 geni, 3*0; New Hanover, 4-0; Upper 

 Tugela, 8 ; Estcourt, 3-7 ; Weenen, 4-3 ; 

 Klip River, 4*8; Dundee, 3*6 ; Utrecht, 4"0 ; 

 Paulpietersburg, 7 5 ; Bshowe, 6'0. 



The heads should be harvested before 

 the seeds are quite ripe, to avoid shatter- 

 ing and loss. The sunflowers may be cut 

 with a sickle or bill-hook, such as is used 

 for cutting up prickly pears or aloes. 

 After drving, the seeds can be thrashed 

 out or beaten with a flail, or, where 

 large quantities have to be treated, they 

 may be easily removed from the heads 

 by pressing the latter against a revolv- 

 ing wooden cylinder into which nails 

 have been partly driven, the projecting 

 heads serving the purpose of teeth on 

 the cylinder of an ordinary threshing 

 machine (Nobbs). The seeds should be 

 stored in bags in a dry place to prevent 

 mould. 



Uses of the Seeds. 



The seeds are the most valuable part 

 of the plant on account of their edible 

 kernels and of the superior quality of 

 the oil prepared from them. In Russia 

 the seeds are used largely for local con- 

 sumption, where they are parched and 

 eaten in the same way as " Monkey- 

 nuts " or earth-nuts in other parts of the 

 world. Birds of all kinds thrive upon 



them, and they are specially employed in 

 feeding caged birds and in fattening 

 fowls for the table, and the diet is said 

 to increase their laying powers. In 

 America the seeds are at present employ- 

 ed in feeding poultry, and to some extent 

 mixed with other fodder as a cattle food. 

 In Natal there is a demand for the seeds 

 for use in the local soap and oil factories. 



The oil-cake left after the expression 

 of the oil forms a valuable cattle food, 

 being, it is said, superior in this respect 

 to maize or Unseed cake, while it is 

 also said to act as a natural " Condition 

 powder " for horses owing to its easy 

 digestibility and its great nutritive pro- 

 perty. Sheep, pigs, rabbits and pigeons 

 also fatten rapidly on the oil-cake. 



Chemical Composition. 

 Dr. J. Koenig* gives the average com- 

 position of five samples of whole seeds 

 and of four kernels. An analysis of 

 the shells or hulls is added for com- 

 parison :— 



Chemical Composition. 





Seeds. 



Kernels. 



Shells. 



Oil 



31-32 



44-31 



5-17 



Albuminoids 



13-67 



26-28 



5-16 



Carbohydrates 



1803 



16-44 



23-y2 



Fibre 



25-35 



2-81 



54-95 



Ash 



3-05 



3-46 



1-78 



Water ... 



8-58 



670 



9-02 





100-00 



100-00 



100-00 



Dr. H. W. Wiley gives, in Bulletin 

 No- 60, Division of Chemistry, U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture, the follow- 

 ing composition of sunflower seeds grown 

 in the United States : — 



Per cent. 



Oil 27-08 



Albuminoids ... ... 14*97 



Carbohydrates ... ... 2Q-94 



Fibre 2917 



Ash 3-41 



Water 443 



100-00 



According to Mr. D. Hooper, in the 

 Indian Agricultural Ledger, European 

 sunflower seed from which the hulls have 

 been removed contains :— 



German. Russian. 



Oil 



Organic substances... 



(including Protein) 

 Ash 



Water ... 



33-48 

 54-04 

 14-12 

 2-8(5 

 9-62 



34-25 

 54-39 

 18-80) 

 3-56 

 7-80 



100-00 100-00 



*Quoted by Mr. David Hooper. r.c.S., f.l.s. 

 the Agricultural Ledger, India. 



