Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-08-01
QUEER SEEDS.

Queer seeds VIII I've an interesting feature
Of the cShit Of the Department of Agriculture
at the Atlanta exposition says the Washington
Star Among those shown will be various
kinds employed f1r food by the Indians Of
North America. The latter eat The seeds OF a
eertian cacti, which are parchsd, pulverized
and made into palatable Cruel. Their fond
ness for the seeds of some pines is we'll
known, these opinions" being to them what
sugars plumbs are to white people. Sun.
flowers seeds, too, theyparch grind and make
into cakes, which are said tobe equal to corn
bread. From the same seeds they get oil for
amounting their bodies
Seeds Of many kinds have been found in
the ruins Of the ancient cliff dweller Of Utah.
the evidence being satisfactory that they were
used for food. Among these may be men.
toned the common garden bean, which is
also discovered in mounds in Arizona
Though Of European origin, this vegetable
was cultivated by the aboriginess Of this
country at a very early date, The cliff dwell
ers used TO eat the seed of the ordinary ''pig.
weed" Indians generally to this day con.
sumo the seeds Of many species Of grasses
making bread and mesh from them. Along
the river in Colorado and Arizona grass seeds
are collected in great quantities for grinding
into -four. Grape seeds, gourd seeds and
acorns are likewise employed.
The exhibit described will include a col
lection of poisonous seeds, such as the famous
Calabar bean, which is said to be worse than
strychnine. This bean is used by the natives
for an ordeal. If person is suspected of
crime, he is compelled to eat one being judged
to be guilty in case Of DEATH which is almost
inevitable Another interesting seed EN-
ployed for like porpose, is that Of the 'or-
deal tree" Of Madagascar. 1t is said to to be
the most deadly Of all vegetable products.
One of these seeds, about the size OF an al.
mond will kill twenty men. The local name
of the plant is "tanghinia Yet another
seed, alleged to be poisonous, is that Of the
common cookie which, finding its way into
wheat fields, poisons the bread made from the
wheat. 1t is the bane of milers in the North.
west.
Another kind Of seed, known to science as
the "hyaenanche globosa" is powdered and
sprnkled on meat, in the neigoborhood of
Cape Coloney for the purpose of poisoning
hyenas. 1t is popularity supposed that horse
cheStnuts are very unwhoesome. Neverthe-
less, in Turkey they are roasted for coffee,
fernented for liquor and utilized for horse
medicine. In India there is a kind Of seed
that varies so little in respect to size as to be
used for a weight standard. 1t is called the
"rettr' and weighs one grain From its name
is derived the word "carat," which has come
into occidental use.
A series Of seeds employed'as substitutes for
adulterations of coffee will be shown, also
seeds used for the Illuminating oil they con-
tain, for medicine, etc, An interesting seed is
the betel nut, which is chewed, having mar
cotic effect. Possessing wonderful properties
as a stimuant is the famous kola nut of Africa
From Guatemala comes the candle nut, used
for lighting. The main entrance of the De-
partment of ofAgriculture is approached through
an avenue of "ginko" trees imported from
Japan, where their seeds are highly esteemed.
But these trees do not fruit in this country,save
in rare instances.
A special display will be made Of seeds ar
ranged according to their species in such a
m amer as to show the extent to which seeds
in general are apt to vary in point of size. 1t
is very desirable that farmers should obtain
seeds for planting that are as big and plump
as. possible, for such seeds germinate more
quickly than smaller ones, and the plants pro-
duced from them get better start.