Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-09-03

featuring thymol from it developed. with
the result that last year there was pro-
duced Commercially a small quantity of
this drug. The industry. however. can.
consumption. as indicated by previous re-
ports, is only about 1900 pounds year,
an amount which can be produced prob
ably on less than 1000 acres.
The experts Of the department have
pointed out that red pepper, used both
as drug and as condiment, seems
to offer one of the most promising
fields for replacing an imported by q
domestic article. In 1915 in South
Carolina 11s acres. Yielding $4,000
dication. according to reports being
received. that this year nearly 500
acres may be devoted to this crop. AS
one acre produces nearly 1900 pounds
and our total imports in 1914 were
only S,82s,487 pounds, 1t can be seen
that limited acreage would provide
all the pepper this country ordinarily
consumes
In addition to the products men,
toned. there are hundreds OF other
ported and which 1t is possible for
this country to produce for itself. In
the aggregate the value Of these i'm
ported articles Is rather imposing. as
the figures indicate that this country
has been bringing in and using about
oils and condiments. Much of this
money undoubtedly can be kept at
home, the experts say. The mistake
made by most people who consider
raising these crops is that they are
inclined to consider them as staple
crops. whereas the domestic demand
for them is relatively small, and no
foreign market has been developed for
them by Americans. 1t is pointed out
also by drug specialists to those wish
Ing to try their hand at raising these
plants that prices for these articles
prevailing under present disturbed
conditions are abnormal and therefore
should not be regarded as a safe basis
on which to estimate regular returns
from such activities.
Scientific Investigations are contfn-
ually going on under the direction Of
the Smithso-
Specimens From the MAN 1nstitu-
Yellowstone Park. hranc,ss an
oftentimes in cooperation with other
institutions. Dr. Charles D. Walcott,
secretary Of the institution. returned
not so long ago from trip into tho
Rocky mountain region. particularly in
the Yellowstone Park. Here he secured
a series of geyser and hot spring de-
posits for the National Museum, as
certain types Of volcanic rock from the
vicinity. DR.. Walcott's party secured
in all nearly five tons Of specimens,
from which will be prepared a special
Yellowstone Park exhibit in the mu-
scum. The party in it's travels covered
thav,
]. W. Gidley Of the institution re-
Gently made trip to Minamaci Ind,
where the fossil bones Of a nearly COM
plete adult male mastodon skeleton
were excavated. The now complete
skeleton, with but little artificial res
toration. is being assembled for exhi-
bition in the fossil hall of the new
museum building.
The institution was represented in
the Koren arctic expedition by B. Alex
river region Of northern Siberia in
search OF the remains of large extinct
particularly the mammoth.
A number Of fossil mammal bones were
secured, but the most important find
was a finely preserved skull Of the ST.
skull OF this monster in any American
museum.
DR.. ]. N. Rose. associate in botany,
a accompanied by P. G. Russell of the
museum. continued Cne Do
exploration of South America,
spending over five months in Brazil
and Argentina, where over 5000 speci-
mems. mostly cactuses. were obtained,
and over ninety cases Of living plants
were sent back to the United States,
together with other natural history
specimens. Work of this kind is con-
in progress by the Smith
sonfan.
According to statistics which have
been gathered by the geological survey.
the recovery of the
y-Products valuable by-products
from American coke
AAon ooAe' manufacture made big
advances in 1918. The value of these
by-products last year is estimated at
$40, 100000. a large increase over the
previous high-water mark of $4,000
in 1914. The chances are that the saw
ings from the coke ovens this year will
far surpass even the s30,000,000 for