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Show Tlio JSIixxx Plowor- Says a New York paper: Everybody knows the common sun flower, whichi abounds in most or the backyards and enclosed-grounds enclosed-grounds of the amall towns and vUlages, and, indeed, in-deed, throughout th nstlc egious of the whole Repablic. The sun flower i self-sowing, we b-( lieve, and grows spontaneously in every part of the cour try. It is so common here that nobody cares for it; yet it is not without a large, gorgeous kind of beantv, which would be appreciated were the plant scarce, or were any pains taken to rear it. Elsewhere the sun flower, if not admired,-is esteemed ur practical reasons. Many of our native na-tive aboriginals make bread out of the seeds. It is cultivated in the south of Europe, sometimes as a field crop, the seeds being used as a food tor cattle and poultry, and a'so for making oil, which is little Inferior to olive oil, is burned in lamps, and employed In the manufacture of soap. Ileal and bread are said to be got from the seeds in Portugal, and these, roasted, are often substltut' d for coffe v The seeds are also used like almonds tor makinsr soothing emulsions and tn some parts of the Old World are boil d and fed to lufants. Th leaves are good fodder for cattle, the stems Concluded on last page. servo , for, fuel, and contain much' potash. The different species of sun flower Indigenous to the United States number some 40, scattered from ' ocean to ocean and from New England to the lulf. For a plant generally counted unworthy, ias it la with us, It surely has many valuable uses. |
