The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-21

Western Asrscuiturlst
The demand for sunfiower oil. and its
substitution for olive oil. makes Important
tie subject of raising these plants In this
country as a general farm crop The neg
leet Slth which this plant has been treated
ia the United States Is another illustration
OF the rich resources OF the country that
cniy need time 10 develop. but owing 10
more profitable employ ments they remain
undiscovered for years. There are many
little isy-psoducts on the farm that can BE-
turned into profitable account II we hEt
have the wisdom to see them. and the viii
10 develop them. Tho history Of the sun
fowe~ shows that for long time IL has
been counted valuable. and in nearly ever
country other than this II has been raised
AS a feed OF some sort. both for human
beings and cattle.
Bur IN this country the chief object for
raising the sundower should be for the off.
the by-proiucf OF the plant being utilized
also to help make the profits gr,ater. After
the oil Is extracted from the seeds, tire
residue makes spretty fair cakes that are
fattening for chickens and cattle. On
poultry farm the cakes would make s1
cellent food for good part OF the year.
The farmer who takes an Interest I'm
crops outside of the regular run could ex
pertinent with tho sunnowers. and PROB
ably make a good addition 10 hts Income.
The plants can be raised with comparative
ease wherever Indian corn thrlves. and
raarsy every one has had some experience
IN raising a few stalks. AS farm crop.
however. they should be planted In single
rows across the Held each plant being
about two feet apart IA tho rows. This
gives them plenty OF space IN which TO
grow. Tho small seed varieties should he
selected for making oil although the large
seed varieties give better results as a food.
The plants need rich soil. and Will grow
on land that Is fairly we'll cultivated In
many parts of the West the sunfiowers
flourish wherever the seeds happen To drop
When the crop ~ ripe the heads are clipped
OF and placed upon frames or the top of
low buildings so dry out ali the moisture
The seeds are then thrsshed hy hand or
machinery. A heavy press extracts the OIL
and leaves the pulp ready FOR feeding 10
the chickens or cattle The process OF ex-
traction Il similar to that OF making olive
oil. and after that a small quantity OF
moisture Is added TO make All inferior grade
from the second pressing A pressure OF
an rounds to the square inch Is required
~ extract all the oil from the seeds The
oil il frequently bottled and sold as olive
oil. $40 that many OF the fine groves of olive
trees have besn cat down as unprontable
and burnt az fuel
The stalks OF the sunfiawer VIII prove of
great benefit ia time as foei. They make
excellent kndling wood. and cut up la
small bundles. they wcstld undoubtedly sell
IN tho cities for this purpose. Some enter
prlstng young man may vet find a good
living In preparing the stalks of the sun
Hover fer the market. selling them AZ 4
few cents per bundle. The present method
OF using pine wood for kiadiingS wit IN
time prove mere expensive than many care
e. pay for. and some substitute will have
Ia take the place 81 the wood on the
prairie farms. where wood - expensive.
the farmer viii tna "a pressing need fer the
woody stalks IN Keeping his own house
warm, II the suni3ower should ne raised
extensively in the West for making oil. the
fuel az tlte future tn that rcgioB would ua-
donhgealy - sunfioWer stalks.