farmer to produce by scientific methods and hard labor a larger crop, half of which is wasted in the process of manufacture.

(2) In addition to the great saving by extracting practically all the juice from the cane, other economies in the process of manufacture were worked out. One of the principal problems solved was that of utilizing the bagasse-that is, the residue of the cane as it leaves the mill-for fuel. The results of the work show that the bagasse can furnish a large part and in some instances all of the fuel necessary not only to drive the mill and press the cane, but also to evaporate the juices to the condition of sirup.

Insecticide Investigations

The chemical examination of insecticides and fungicides has been a potent factor in improving the purity of products now sold on the market. Some idea of the value of such work to the farmer is gained by consideration of the loss occasioned by the ravages of plant diseases and insects. Experts have estimated that there is a loss of 20 per cent from these two sources, which, when applied to the farm crops of 1911 valued at $5,367,000,000, would indicate a loss of about $1,000,000,000. Probably one-third of this enormous sum could be saved by the proper application of insecticides and fungicides of the requisite strength and purity. Any inferiority in the quality of these materials means the additional loss of the labor in applying them.

The early studies of this subject showed that many of the insecticides on the market were of practically no value whatever, owing to the fact that they contained little or no active ingredients. Other insecticides which contained some active ingredients were adulterated by the addition of inert substances for the purpose of increasing the bulk to such an extent that they were of no value whatever.

As a result of the data secured by these investigations an insecticide and fungicide law was passed and approved April 26, 1910, which has greatly improved the conditions. Now it is a violation of law to ship in interstate commerce for sale any insecticide or fungicide which is adulterated or misbranded in any particular. A farmer in buying a supply to protect his crops can be reasonably sure he is getting exactly what he asks for and what he pays for.

Commercial Feeding Stuffs

An exhaustive study of the various feeding stuffs on the market was completed in 1908, and the results published in Bulletin 108.

This study furnished valuable data for the information of purchasers of feeding stuffs and for further studies of the nutritive value of the various materials used for stock foods. It also furnished information that has been of great value in the enforcement of the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act of June 30, 1906, which apply to these products. A study of the feeding value of various cereals was made and the results published in Bulletin 120. The chemical data secured from this investigation have been of value in agricultural studies of the best methods for increasing the nutritive value of various grains.

Farm Products and Wastes in Manufacturing Industries

From an economical standpoint the investigations of the Bureau of Chemistry relating to the utilization of farm products for paper making, tanning, denatured alcohol manufacture, turpentine and rosin industries, and the destructive distillation of wood products are of the utmost practical importance not only to the farmer, but also to the manufacturer and to the consuming public.

Paper and Leather Making Materials

In no industrial enterprise is there greater opportunity for conservation than in those agricultural-chemical industries, tanning and paper making. Not only are large quantities of raw materials totally unused, but those which are consumed are not so fashioned that articles of the highest utility are produced. National reserves are being sacrificed in the wasteful production of inferior products. American paper is beautiful in appearance, and American shoes are tastefully made, but too frequently both lack durability and utility.

These investigations have pointed out the ways in which better leather and paper may be made at less expense. It has been shown that certain operations of tanning-notably bleaching, adding foreign material, and scraping off the surface of the leather-are not only useless, so far as the quality of the leather is concerned, but are positively harmful to it, and make it cost more. It is important that these facts should be more generally known, in order that the squandering of the national reserves may be curtailed and the people protected from inferior products.

Investigations in progress have shown that it is practicable to reduce the weight or bulk of paper used in this country from 10 to 25 per cent. It has been demonstrated that lighter and thinner papers can be made that are in every way superior to those now generally used. The annual cost of paper can be reduced from

$2,000,000 to $3,000,000, and the equivalent in raw materials and labor conserved.

The leather and paper laboratory is in a position to propose specifications for paper for various purposes, and to show how the cost of paper may be reduced and the quality improved. In several instances the saving on mailing charges alone has paid the extra cost of higher grade papers suggested by the leather and paper laboratory.

Products Obtained by the Destructive Distillation of Wood

Extensive investigations have been made by the Bureau of Chemistry looking toward the recovery by distillation of turpentine from dead trees, sawdust, stumps, and other refuse of the lumber industry. Owing to the constantly widening field for the use of turpentine and the gradual reduction of the supply of gum spirits of turpentine the price has steadily increased. As a result the adulteration of turpentine has been all too common. The results of the investigations have been published in Circular 36 and in Bulletins 135 and 144.

It has been demonstrated that by utilizing the stumps, dead trees, sawdust, and other waste material of the lumber industry not only all the turpentine used in this country can be profitably produced, but that all the tar pitch, rosin spirits, rosin oils, methyl alcohol, acetate of lime, and acetone can be extracted from the same waste products. In addition there could be material left for making large quantities of ethyl alcohol, paper, oxalic acid, and other chemicals. The commercial importance of these facts together with processes of manufacture are fully set forth in Bulletin 144.

Denatured Alcohol

In 1906 Congress passed a law providing that domestic alcohol may be withdrawn from bond without the payment of an internalrevenue tax, for use in the arts and industries and for fuel, light, and power, on condition that it shall have been denatured by the admixture of some material which unfits it for use medicinally or as a beverage. In 1908 the Bureau of Chemistry began an investigation for the purpose of demonstrating the manufacture of denatured alcohol on a scale suitable for utilization by the farmer or associations of farmers. A model distillery was erected and operated. Various waste farm products were used in an experimental way to determine the manufacturing process to be used in each and to find out what wastes could be profitably used. A number of

State experiment stations sent men to be instructed in the operation of the plant and in the processes of distillation, in order that they would be in a position to assist the farmers in their respective States to equip and operate distilling plants. Valuable data as to the yield of alcohol from various farm products were secured. The results of this extensive investigation have been published and will be useful in the development of the industry.

Drug Investigation

On March 1, 1903, a drug laboratory was established in the Bureau of Chemistry for the purpose of studying chemicals and drugs. Valuable results have been secured. Extensive investigations of chemical reagents have been made with the view of securing more reliable chemicals for analytical work. Data have been collected for use in establishing standards.

The work done by the drug laboratory for the Post Office Department has been of special interest. Examinations have been made of a large number of remedies and fake cures of various kinds at the request of that department to assist in the enforcement of the law to prevent the use of the mails for fraudulent purposes. As a result of this work many worthless fakes have been denied the use of the mails.

[NOTE. For the work of the Bureaus of Animal Industry and Meat Inspection, see preceding chapter.]

CHAPTER XI

FORESTRY

THE forests of the world may be divided into three parts. In most of the countries of Continental Europe the larger part of the forests have been long controlled by government, so that there is scarcely a question of public versus private ownership in these countries. In another group of countries such as China, Italy, and Spain the forests have been so largely destroyed or damaged that the situation is almost hopeless. The tendency in Spain and Italy is for the government to step in now and do what it can. But the possibilities of forest work in the near future are narrowly limited by the paucity of the forest resources of these countries.

In a third class are those comparatively new countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia, where a vast amount of lumbering is going on, but it is not too late to save a large part of the forests by governmental action. It is in these countries that the discussion of private versus public ownership is acute.

Finally, a fourth group may be made of the more distant parts of Asia, Africa, and South America, where very small inroads have been made into the forests and where the question of private vesus public ownership has not yet become an acute issue. Possibly even parts of European Russia may be considered in this class, as the government has not yet been seriously tempted to sell its possessions into private hands—and might conceivably do so at some later date.

It is probably safe to say that the larger part of the forests in modern civilized communities are already under governmental control, and it is certain that the governmental area is increasing in most countries-though not at the present moment in the United States.