LINSEED, flax seed of Linum usitatissimum.
Buzruk, . . . . ARAB. Tukhm-i-katan, PERS.
Hu-ma-tsze, . . . Cmx. Siemie, Iniane, .
Horrfroe, . . . DAN. Linhaca, . . . . PORT.
Lynzaad, . . . Semja-lenjanw, . Ens.
Ian, Graine de lin, . FR. Linaza, Sr.
Lein-samen, . . . GER. Linfro, Sw.
Suf, Tisi, Ulsi, . . HIND. Alleverei, . . Tau. Semenza di lone, . . Ir. Alivi tullu, . . . TEL. Linseme, . . . . „ Bezir-tukhma, . . TURK. Bidgierammi, MALEAL.
In India the seed is the chief product of the flax plant, and is principally used in the manu facture of linseed oil. The first export from Calcutta was made by Mr. llodgkinson in 1832, and amounted to only ten bushels, but the increase has been rapidly progressive. In 1860-61 the exports from India were 550,700 cwt., value Rs. 1,25,57,790; and in 1882-83 there were 6,724,514 cwt., value Rs. 3,52,84,813; in 1883-84, 8,513,7611 cwt., value Rs. 4,58,40,234.
This crop in India is sown thickly in the linseed producing provinces. In the poorer western dis tricts it is often sown as an edging crop to wheat and other grain, because it is not eaten by cattle in the green state. The reason for its being sown in both long and cross drills, is that the plant, being weakly, requires much sowing to guard it against the action of the weather. It does not seem im probable that the spurious white atees' roots of the bazar are occasionally obtained from this or from the Gula-shupre, or Linum trigynum, indi genous in the Lower Provinces. The oilcake which remains after the oil is expressed from lin seed, contains the albuminous patt of the seed, and is used for fattening cattle. The oil is con
tained in the kernel of the seeds, and may be either cold drawn, or, as is usual, obtained after the seeds have been subjected to a heat of 200°. The oil obtained by the former process is paler, with less colour and taste, than where heat has been employed. The seeds of different countries yield different proportions of oil. It is one of the cheapest fixed oils ; is a drying oil, and is used in the manufacture of paints, varnishes, and printing inks. Where the linseed oil of India is not possessed of the full drying properties of the oil prepared in Europe, there is no doubt this is owing to the Indian linseed being expressed before the mustard seed has been separated, with which it is commonly mixed, in consequence of the two plants being often grown together. Byboiling with litharge, its drying properties arc much improved. When used as the vehicle for the harder resins, it should be pure, pale, well clarified, and combined with the resin at as low a temperature as possible. Unless these conditions be attended to, a dark varnish is produced, which becomes darker by age. This oil gives softness and toughness to the resin, but produces a slowly drying varnish. It is clari fied for the best varnishes by being gradually raised to near the boiling point in a copper pan. It is used also in printers' ink.—.3r Culloch; Smith.