Saffron
a bulbous plant of the crocus family. It has long grass-like leaves, and flowers that spring from short scapes like those of the crocus. The flower is purple; the style divides into three orange-colored stigmas an inch or so in length. These stigmas hold the yellow dye known commercially as saffron. They are picked in the early morning and dried in a kiln. The stigmas of over 1,000 flowers are required to yield an ounce of the dye. The saffron is a native of the Levant. It was cultivated by the Arabs in Spain during the tenth century; and during the fifteenth century was raised in quantities in England for the use of dyers. The ancient Greeks considered saffron a royal color. In addition to its use as a dye, saffron is also employed in medicine. The English and Cornish cooks use saffron to flavor a certain sort of bread. A "saffron" complexion denotes a yellow, sallow hue. Saffron is produced for sale in Spain, Asia Minor , Persia, Cashmere, and China. See Dye
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Saffron
in botany, the Crocus sativus, a species with light purple flowers which come out in autumn. It grows in the S. of Europe and in parts of Asia. It is extensively cultivated in France, Austria and Spain, as it formerly was in England. The Spanish variety is the best for commercial purposes, though it is said that 100,000 flowers are necessary to produce one pound of saffron. The stigmas of the flower are from 1 to 1/2 inches in length, narrow and rounded where they are attached to the style, but spreading and club-shaped near the extremity, which is truncated. They have an orange or brownish-red color, yellow in the narrower par part, and an agreeable aromatic odor. The dried stigmas of the saffron crocus are sometimes used in dyeing and for coloring tinctures. They have a bitter taste, and impart a yellow color to water, alcohol, and oils. It was formerly met with in two forms, viz., hay saffron and cake saffron, but the former is now alone in demand. Saffron is slightly stimulant. It is used in the treatment of exanthemata, but chiefly as a coloring agent in preparing medicines and in cookery. The natives in India use saffron as a remedy in fever, melancholia, catarrhal affections of children, and as a coloring matter in some dishes.
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Sag Harbor
BOR, a village in Suffolk co., Long Island, N. Y.; Y.; on Gard and on the Long Island railroad; 100 Gardiner's Bay, miles E. by N. of New York City. There is an excellent harbor and regular steamboat connections with New York. Here are a union school, the Academy of the Sacred Heart of Mercy (R. C.), several banks, two weekly newspapers, and many handsome summer residences of New York business men. The village has flour and cotton mills, and manufactories of tools, watch cases, cigars, and leather. Sag Harbor was originally the site of Indian settlements, and many interesting relics have here been exhumed. The population varies, being larger during the summer season than at other times.
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Saga (Ancient Scandinavian tale)
an ancient Scandinavian tale, legend, or tradition, of considerable length, and relating either historical or mythical events; a tale, a history, a story, a legend. The Scandinavian sagas were compiled chiefly in the 12th and three following centuries. The most remarkable it as a tonic for debility of the stomach are those of Lodbrok, Hervara, Vilkina, Völsunga, Blomsturvalla, Yynglinga, Olaf Tryggva-Sonar, with those of Jomsvikingia and of Knytlinga (which h contain the legendary history of Iceland), the Heims- Kringla and New Edda, due to Snorri Sturlason.
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Saga (Town of Japan capitol)
a town of Japan, capitol of the province of Hizen, on the island of Kioo Lioo 74 miles N. E. of Nagasaki. It is important as a seaport and commercial center. A large number of brooks and channels traverse the town. The most important channel is that of Sentonofutsi, 50 miles in length. It unites the Gulf of Simabara with the Northern Sea, and greatly conduces to the inland commerce of the island. Pop. about 38,000. fetid gum-resin
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Sagapenum
a brought from Persia and Alexandria, and generally believed to be furnished by some species of the genus Ferula. It occurs either in tears or irregular masses of a dirty brownish color, containing in the interior white or yellowish grains. It has an odor of garlic, and a hot, acrid, bitterish taste. It is occasionally used bitterdicinesta nervine and stimulating expectorant. well-built or SAUGOR, a
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Sagar (Low mouth of the Hugli)
a low, mouth of the Hugli, the holiest branch of the Ganges; it is particularly sacred in the estimation of the Hindus. Multitudes of pilgrims annually resort to it in January, and after the three days' festival of purification is over a great fair is held. The island has an area of 225 square miles, but is very thinly inhabited, the greater part being jungle, the haunt of tigers and other wild animals. A lighta meteorological observatory, and a telegraph station are the chief ouse (1808), buildings.
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Sagar (Town in the Central Provinces)
town in the Central Provinces of India, in a hilly tract, on a feeder of the Jumna. There are here a Mahratta fort, now barracks, and a magazine, as well as a jail (1846) converted into British stores, and a park (1862); and there were formerly a college (removed to Jabalpur) removed to Calcutta). Saand a mint (rer ( gar has a trade in salt, sugar, and cloth. Pop. about 44,000. low, swampy island at the
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Sage
a member of the mint family. Sage is a perennial herb with square stems, opposite aromatic woolly leaves, and two-lipped flowers. There are 650 allied species. Several species are cultivated for ornament. Old-fashioned sage is raised for seasoning and medicine. Sage leaves rank with catnip, pennyroyal, and boneset in the list of household remedies. Market gardeners raise enormous quantities, cutting each plant twice a year. Sage is used chiefly for seasoning sausage, cheese, soups, stews, and dressing. The flavor is due to a volatile oil. The common sage is native to southern Europe. The name has reference to a supposed effect on the mind. The use of sage was reputed to strengthen the memory and to make people wise. There is an old proverb, "The wife rules where sage grows." See Mint ; Catnip
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