Sesame. (Sesamum orientate). 
A field of sesame, carefully pulled out and stacked 
up. The pods of the sesame plant do not all ripen at once 
and v/hen fully ripe they open and allow seeds to fall out 
to a considerable extent, making the crop a very difficult 
one to handle. If a variety could be found which kept its 
pods closed up, as the opium poppy does its head, it would 
be a tremendous gain to all sesame growers. The oil ex- 
pressed from the seeds is among the most important of food 
products of China and always commands a good price. The 
seeds themselves are made into candies in the nature of 
peanut brittle; and are also baked on thin cakes giving 
the latter a rich, nutty flavor. Photographed by F. N. 
Meyer, near Pang Kwan chen, Shensi, China, Sept. 3, 1914, 
No. 13180. 
