The Topeka state journal., 1922-03-18
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC J. HAsKIN, DirectOr,
Washington. D. Q.
SEEKING SAVINGS THRU SCIENCE

SEEKING SAVINGS THRU SCIENCE
Washington, d. c.. March 12.-De-
veIopment of a new American grown
| beverage is one of the latest projects
of the versatile bureau of chemistry
in the department tof agriculture. In
South Carolina fields and in a labora-
tory here cassina is being carefully
studied in the expectation that some
day 1t may find favor with the Ameri-
! can public
In another laboratory, scientists of
the bureau are studying ways in whlch
leather can be best preserved II Is
concluded that if each individual took
proper care of his shoes he might re-
duce the average number OF pairs
bought by each person in year from
three to two-a saving nationally OF
some $5O0,00Q,0O0.
From leather. the bureaus interests
run to syrup, and it has developed
long sought sugar cane syrup which
neither ferments quickly nor turns TO
sugar. This means that il the can
syrup is commercially handed New
Englanders may be able to compare
this southern deucacy with their IA
nous maple syrup.
These random examples of research
work were selected by DR.. w. W.
skinner in charge of the scientific
work Of the bureau of chemistry as he
explained how his bureau works for
the general public, and not alone 1or
the farmer. as many people think.
1--WE are working. said DOCTOR
Skinner toward greater utilization Oh
primary agricultural products and by
products. The utilization of by-prod-
ucts sometimes makes the primary
product cheaper to the consumer ana
at the same time the producer is aple
to derive more profit from his ma
terials Therefore, everyone IS con-
cerned with the service which agricul-.
tural chemistry is rendering to the
country"
cases the service rendered by the bu-
reau TO the consumer is direct-as
in its suggestions on conservation OF
shoe leather
Would Save Importing Hides.
I'VE are doing a great deal of work
on conservation of leather, Dr.
skinner said. This country is having
to import more and more hides every
year for making leather. II we can
reduce that import by saving Ieather
every user of leather in the country
would benefit"
A bulletin on this subject is one re-
suit of extensivbe tests and expert
ments by scientists i'm the leather lab
oratory The following two para
eranbs taken from the bulletin show
the practical character OF the bureau
IAN economical plan is to have two
pairs of shoes which are worn on al
IGTnaIe Gays, lnUS PEADiANA4i-6
pair to become thoroly dry between
the periods Of wearing them.
Great care must be taken IN cry
ing wet boots and shoes, for they otteh
burn before it seems possible more
over if dried too fast and without
proper attention, they shrink, becom-
ing hard and mishapen. To dry wet
boots and shoes properly 1lrst WASH
off all adhering mud and grit with
tepid water and in the case OF work
or rough shoes at once grease them
Straighten the counter, heel, Vamp,
and top to the proper shape' anu
stuff the shoes with crumpled paper
which helps them to hold their shape
and shortens the drying period Fin
ally, set the shoes aside in a place
that is not too warm and allow them
to dry slowly. Wet leather burns very
easily. much more readily than dry
leather The shoes should not
be worn until they have become
thoroly dry"
Considering the cost of shoes, the
Importance to everyone OF knowing
how to get the most service out OF d
pair of shoes is obvious.
In other phases of the bureaus re
search work the general puplic IS IN
directly Concerned, as IN the sugar
cane syrup Investigations. 1ncongru-
ousIy enough. this syrup project seems
likely to affect southern cotton grow
ers first The cotton boil weevil
which has so devastated cotton fields
in some southern states has discour-
aged many growers. They know that
if the land is planted in different
crops for several seasons the boil
weevil will die off from starvation and
The problem is to
find a suitable and profitable crop TO
replace the cottOu-
Sugar cane is one possible crop, and
the bureau of chemistry's syrup in
vestigations show cane growing as one
solution of the cotton growers di-
lemma.
Sweet Potato Syrup Next.
Sweet potato syrup is another sug-
ecstion to the southern farmer made /,
by the bureau after long investiga- |
ticns crowned at last with success /
The sweet potato syrup produced by |
very desirable syrup. 1t only remains
to arouse public interest in the new
In Fitzgerald, Ca, where
have been made, govern |
thousand gallons this year and dis |
tribute it. to show consumers that |
the product is acceptable
This newly developed food product |
is expected to increase interest in
sweet potato raising. The Gull po-
jumbos that are too large
and the dwarf potatoes that are too |
small to be fit to nnarket-can be |
turned into syrup as a practical COM /
mercial proposition, the bureau of |
But. tho new kinds of syrup are the |
most engrossing interest just |
now, they are not, perhaps, SO novel /
as new drink. The beverage which 1
the bureau is developing somewhat |
resembles tea. 1t. is made from a /
plant known as cassina which grows |
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 i
berries. 1t grows rs feet high in /
hedges and WindbreakS on southern I