The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-06-08
THE BIG SUNFLOWER
THIS VALUABLE PLANT HAS GREAT
ECONOMIC VALUE.

so Cultivators-H ls Logically On
National Flower.
The sunhower might be a most az
propriate choice for the national fowe
Of our country, since II originated her
In the regions Of the great plains
Specimens Of II were taken 10 Europ
by the early Spanish explorers, and
was first cultivated in the old worl,
IN the gardens Of Madrid. The plan
was utilized by the American lndianl
long before the days OF Columbus
Champlain, when he visited Georgian
bay In 1915. found the aborigines ther,
growing 1t and using the oil made from
the seeds on their hair. 1t was raiset
chiefly for the sake of the food which
Its seeds supplied. To SO high poin,
had It been developed by the natives or
this continent that during the three and
half centuries which have elapsed
since Its adoption by the white men II
has not been improved TO any extent,
merely retaining the original size which
distinguished 1t from it's wild original.
In Russia the plant Is OF great eco
nomic Importance, its seeds being eaten
In immense quantities. raw or roasted,
Just as we eat peanuts. The oil OBJ
tained by pressing the seeds Is also
widely used as an article of diet The
stalks and oil cakes make excellent fod.
der, the leaves are employed as sub
st1tute for tobacco, and the fiber Of the
stalks has high value. The oil Of the
sunfiower Is widely employed in Rus,
sia, where the frequent religious feaSts
restrict the use of meat There are
three principal varieties cultivated In
the cars territory-one with large
white seeds, which are said to yield the
most oil: one with smaller black seeds,
which are sweeter and considered the
best for eating, and an intermediate
form with striped seeds. used both for
eating and the production of oil.
The sunfower has assumed greater
economic value in Russia than in any
other country. Even by the upper
classes the seeds are much eaten. the
larger and finer ones being equal to
most nuts in palatability and whole
someness. While tie poorer and less
perfect seeds furnish an oil which Is
somewhat turbid and bitter, the better
ones yield a superior quality that Is
said to compare favorably with the
olive oil Of commerce. The stalks and
straw Of the sunflower are highly priz-
cd as fuel, being in some parts Of the
empire the only available substitute
for wood to burn. Sunfower oil seems
to have more of the general properties
OF olive oil than any other known sub |
stitute. OF late years, when purified, |
1t has been used extensively to aduter.
ate olive oil. 1t is of a pale yellowish
color and decidedly palatable. In a |
crude state 1t is used by painters, but
to no very great extent, being mixed |
with cheap paints and prepared stains,
but It does not equal linseed oil for |
varnish. The cake left after the ex-
traction OF the oil by pressure Is ex-
remely rich, being equal in this re-
spect to the maize cake or linseed cake.
Branches and stalks of the plant are
used for fodder and are highly nu-
tritious.
One OF the many ways Of utilizing the
seeds Is practiced in the poorer dis
tricts Of Europe, where a fair kind of
bread is made from them Many cheap
cigars are made from the leaves Of the
plant. When properly cured the leaves
make fair wrappers for cigars, and
hey are employed to a greater extent
han Is generally thought. Pulverized
md used with an equal quantity of to-
)acco the combination is not SO bad for
)ipe smoking. The sunfower gives a
peculiar aroma to the tobacco which ID
much liked by some smokers. Cheap
cigarettes are often adulterated With
Iunhower leaves. In China the fiber Of
he stalks, which Is fine, silky and very
strong, Is woven into silk fabrics, and =
is believed with the proper machin,
.ry 1t might be utilized with much
,roft In this country.
1t IS an interesting fact that the Va.
iety Of sunhower most grown IN this
country is called the Russian. Farm .
RS say that nothing fattens chickens !
% quickly as the seeds Of this plant
which seem to encourage hens TO lay
PAPER has been made from the stalks,
'ut in the treeless region where the
unfower is most extensively grown
heir highest value is for fuel.
Though the economic value of the
unfower has been but recently a sub
ect Of discussion, Its aesthetic value
as long been recognized. In Kansas
be borders Of wagon roads and rail- {
oads are frequently lined for miles
nth the blossoms, which in August
nd September, when the flowers are
a full bloom, are feature Of the
rair1e landscape. These are not the
arge flowers grown In our gardens =
or ornamental purposes, but are
mailer variety, which grows wild
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