238 
TALLOW TREE. 
generally arrives at about the height of a pear-tree, 
resembles the cherry in its trunk and branches, and 
the black poplar in its foliage : there is this differ- 
ence, however, in the wax tree ; its leaves, which 
are of a bright red colour, are not toothed, and 
have two small glandules seated at the base of each. 
The fruit is contained in a husk divided into three 
spherical segments, which open when it is ripe, and 
discover three white grains, of the size of a small 
walnut. 
The tallow tree is actually cultivated in several 
of the European colonies of both Indies, as well 
as in the southern parts of Europe. Besides the 
tallow which the Chinese obtain from this plant, 
they express a considerable quantity of oil from 
its seeds, which is principally used in their lamps. 
In order to obtain this vegetable fat, the people 
collect the pulp which covers the seeds, and which 
resembles tallow both in its colour, smell, and con- 
sistence : this is melted and made into candles, 
with the addition of a little linseed-oil, to render 
it softer and sweeter. Another method of extract- 
ing the tallow, very commonly employed, is to 
bruise the husks and seeds together ; after which 
they are boiled in water, and the fat skimmed off 
as it rises to the surface : this, when it is suffered 
to cool and condense into tallow, is made into can- 
dles, after being mixed with a certain portion of 
linseed-oil, and a little wax to give it the necessary 
consistence. 
