CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS. 



53 



Diseases and injuries. 



Cost of cultivation. 



Average outturn. 



pigment forms merely a preliminary process in the art of dyeing, and is not held 

 necessary in order to prepare the florets for sale in the market. The method in which 

 the extraction is effected is similar to that described above. 



The yellow pigment of safflower is readily soluble in water, but safflower red (or 

 carthamin) needs the presence of an alkali as a solvent. The yellow pigment (or pit/an") 

 is, as a rule, considered useless, but is occasionally used as a hase on which the more 

 valuable red dye is applied. So soon as its extraction has been completed an alkali is 

 mixed with the florets, the ash of the bdjra {Penicillaria spicaid) or of the cJiirchira 

 {^Achjranthes asperd) being used for this purpose where possible, since they contain a 

 large proportion of potash. Impure carbonate of soda {sajji) is not uncommonly used in 

 the proportion of half chittack to a seer of florets. The alkali is well mixed with the florets 

 and the mixture rubbed into a paste, which is placed over a cloth strainer and readily 

 yields a deep red pigment to a stream of water poured over it. The safilower is washed 

 three times in this manner, each time with water in the proportion of 2 seers (=2 quarts 

 nearly) to a seer of florets, and three tinctures of diff'erent strength and quantity are 

 obtained. Cloth is dyed by being immersed in the tincture and dried, the depth of the 

 shade depending on the number of times this process is repeated. Carthamin is precip- 

 itated by an acid, and acidulated water is often used to fix the colour on the cloth. 



The picking of the florets does not prevent a crop of seed, since the embryo seed is 

 not detached with the flower, and is, as a rule, fertilized before the flower is picked. The 

 use of the seed as an oil producer and as food for cattle has been already noticed. In 

 some Districts {e.g., Cawnpore) the seed is made over to the professional oil pressor 

 {telis) for extraction of the oil. In others {e.g., Azamgarh) the oil is extracted by the 

 cultivator, not by pressure but by a process somewhat resembling distillation. " An 

 " earthen vessel is sunk in the ground and on its mouth another vessel is placed, in the 

 " bottom of which a small hole is pierced. In this upper vessel the seed is placed, and 

 "round the outside of it a fire is kindled. As the seed is gradually roasted the oil 

 " exudes from it and drips into the lower vessel " — (Azamgarh Settlement Eeport.) 



Lightning is popularly supposed to do great injury if it occurs while the heads 

 are in flower, and the plants are reported to suffer occasionally from the attacks of an 

 insect known as the dl, the scientific name and affinities of which have not been as- 

 certained. 



The cost of cultivation of an acre of safflower grown alone may be put at Es. 15-2, 

 allowing Es. 13-10* for tillage, sowing, irrigation and rent, and Es. 1-8 for the cost of 

 picking. 



The average outturn of dry florets per acre of safflower sown thickly amongst 

 carrots may be put at 30 seers worth about Es. 15, with 5 maunds of seed worth Es. 5 

 more. The value of the dry florets would be much higher were it not possible to grow 

 safflower as a subordinate crop, without much damage to the crop with which it is asso- 

 ciated. In other words its price is not so much regulated by its cost of production as 

 by the loss which its mixture occasions to a crop of barley, gram or carrots. 



* Assuming tbat tlie cultivation is on a par with that of irrigated barley, {see page 11.) 



