Oil and Soap from the Sunflower

The 'sunflower,' which for four hundred years has remained an object of admiration and care for the wealth of color in its bloom and the slimness and height of its stalk, has now become the basis of an important new industry in Britain.

For centuries Russia set aside vast areas of land for its cultivation and for the use of its seeds as food. These seeds were cooked in many forms, perhaps the best-tasting of them being something after the manner of peanuts.

Modern scientific research, however, has discovered several new merits in this flower. These investigations went on for three years at the Imperial College of industries in England, employing some 70 hectares all sown with sunflowers.

It was discovered that sunflower seeds contain 33.50 percent of a rich oil with a sweet taste and a color verging on yellow. From what remains of the seeds after pressing it has been possible to extract cellulose, which is a nutritive element, as well as potassium, which enters into the manufacture of soap. The residue can also be used as feed for domestic fowl and cattle.

The price of a ton of the oil extracted from sunflowers is 65½ pounds sterling.

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Experiments are still continuing to discover new benefits in this flower that is so proud of itself.