ANNATTO. 
173 
and we use it to stain butter, cheese, soaps, and 
candles, or to dye silks, wool, feathers, and other 
things." 
3. Mr. Scott found that some of the children 
knew the annatto, and could describe it. They 
told him that it was a shrub — that it bore heart- 
shaped leaves, and bunches of pinkish or white 
flowers. 
4. The annatto shrub will grow almost any- 
where, except in very wet places," said Mr. Scott; 
" but it gives best crops when it grows in rich 
soil. As cattle, horses, and goats will not eat 
the leaves, the annatto is often planted upon hilly 
pasture-lands. 
5. ^^In a year and a half from the time of sowing 
seeds, the first crop will be ready, and the shrubs 
will yield more year by year, for several years. 
6. " The fruit is gathered as soon as the husks 
begin to open, and the seeds are then taken out, 
and well dried, that they may not become mouldy 
after they are packed No doubt you can tell 
me what will be done with the seeds in the end." 
The waxy part will be taken off," said one of 
the boys. 
7. " Quite right," said Mr. Scott. And some- 
times this is done here, in the West Indies; the 
pulp being pressed into cakes or rolls before it is 
sent away. Sometimes, however, the seeds are 
