Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-03-14
Sweet Potato Syrup Next

Sweet potato syrup is another sug-
geStion to the southern farmer made
by the Bureau after long investiga-
tons crowned at last with success.
The sweet potato syrup produced by
the Bureau experts is pronounced a
very desirable syrup. 1t only re-
mains to arouse public interest in
the new commodity. In Fitzgerald.
Georgia, where experiments have
been made, government scientists are
to produce several thousand gallons
this year and distribute it, to show
consumers that the product is ac-
ceptable.
This newly developed food pro-
duct is expected to increase interest
in sweet potato raising. The Gull po-
tatoes-the jumbos that are too large
and the dwarf potatoes that are too
small to be fit to market-can be
turned into syrup as a practical
commercial proposition, the Bureau
of sChemistry says.
But, though new kinds of syrup
are h Bureaus most e~ngrossing in
terest Just now, they are not, per-
haps, so move as a new drink. The
beverage which the Bureau is de-
veloping somewhat resembles tea. 1t
Is made from a plant known as cas-
slna which grows luxuriantly in the
South. Cassina is,an herb belonging
to the same family as yerba mate of
South America. 1t is a kind of holly
with leaves small and round like
mistletoe and red holly berries. 1t
grows rs feet high in hedges and
windbreaks on southern farms.
"The leaves of this plant are said
to have been used in the Civil War
by colored people as a tea" DIR.
Skinner explained. but tea is not
properly made from leaves simply
picked and marketed. The leaves
must be cured. and it is this process
that we are developing. Investiga-
tons are being carried on in South
Carolina and other places and we
hope to produce a new drink which
will meet with favor among the tea
connoisseurs of this country.
I'VE have made some excellent tea
from the leaves of this plant. 1t has
a bouquet similar to high grade tea
with a piquant flavor of it's own that
is peculiarly agreeable. We are hop
ing to produce it this year on a semi
commercial scale, and we believe
that it will prove to be cheaper than
tea.s This does not mean that it is
to be a cheap product that may be
substituted for tea or blended with
tea. 1t is a new beverage that will
be introduced on it's own merits.
Both tea and coffee are altogether
imported by this country. Here is the
possibility. our experimental work
shows, for development of a great
American beverage industry, for cas-
sina can be grown anywhere from
North Carolina down through the
South"
May Export Tea Substitute
1t is even thought possible that
cassina tea might prove a profitable
export to countries using yerba mate.
Argentina. the country where yerba
mate is in highest favor, uses, co.
600, 900 pounds of it a year. All but
$500, 900 pounds are imported large
ly from Brazil and Paraguay. II
the cassina drink proves acceptable
it is possible that we may export
some to Argentina Aside from the
fact that yerba mate has a smoky
taste, slightly reminiscent of creo-
sote, due to the leaves being dried
over a wood fire, it tastes very SINH
lar to cassina.
The Bureau of Chemistry is work
ing with various other chronological
projects in which it sees possibilities
of helping the farmer, the manufac-
turer and the general public. The
grease that is always present in wool
when it from the sheep has
been made a subject for investigation
in the Bureau with the result that
what was once wasted is now be-
ing used for lanolin in making cos
metics, and that potash is also OBJ
tanned from the wool scourings.
New methods of manufacturing
Insecticides, commercial dehydration
of fruits and vegetables. ways of pre-
serving tenting and other farm fab
RIGS are other propositions on which
the Bureau is working. Almost every
product on the farm has possibili-
ties for greater use, but the Bureau
is limited in funds. 1t has to take
up the work that seems most needed.
at is mainly in the last half CEN
tury," DIR. Skinner concluded, that
agricultural chemistry has played its
important part in developing ma
terials and we believe that in future
chemistry is going to render even a
greater service than it has in the
past"