The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-14

WdsniuStOu- IL. u, MATCH 1o.-DS-
velopment of a new, American
grown beverage is one of the lates:
projects of the versatile bureau q
| chemistry in the department of ag-
riculture. In South Carolina fields
and in laboratory here cassina is
being carefully studied in the ex-
pectation that some day it may find
favor with the American public.
In another laboratory, scientists
of the bureau are studying ways in
which leather can best be preserv-
ed. 1t is concluded that if each in
dividual took proper care of his
shoes he might reduce the average
number of pairs bought by each
person in a year from three to two
"a saving nationally of some $780,
100000
From leather. the bureaus in
terests run to syrup, and it has
developed long sought sugar cane
syrup which neither ferments
quickly nor turns to sugar. This
means that if the cane syrup is
commercially handled New Eng
landers may be able to compare
this southern delicacy with their
famous maple syrup.
These random examples of re-
search work were selected by DR..
W. ". Skinner in charge of the sci
entific work of the bureau for the
general public, and not alone for
the farmer, as many people think.
1--WE are working" said DR.. Skin
ner, toward greater utilization of
primary agricultural products and
by-products. The utilization of by
products sometimes makes the pri-
mary product cheaper to the con-
sumner and at the same time the
producer is able to derive more pro-
fit from his materials. Therefore,
everyone is concerned with the
service which agricultural chemiS-
try is rendering to the country"
DR.. Skinner showed how in some
cases the service rendered by the
bureau to the consumer is direct
as in its suggestions on conserva-
ton 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 leath-
er. If we can reduce that import
by saving leather every user of
leather in the country would bene-
fit"
A bulletin on this subject is one
result of extensive tests and ex-
periments by scientists in the leath-
er laboratory. The following two
paragraphs taken from the bulletin
show the practical character of the
bureaus suggestions:
AN economical plan is to have
two pair of shoes which are worn
on alternating days, thus permit
ting each pair to become thorough
ly dry between the periods of wear
ing them.
Great care must be taken in dry
ing wet boots and shoes, for they
often burn before it seems possible.
Moreover, if dried too fast and with
out proper attention, they shrink,
become hard and misshapen. To
dry wet boots and shoes properly,
first 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 coun-
ter. heel, vamp, and top to the prop
er shape, and stuff the shoes with
crumpled paper, which helps them
to hold their shape and shortenS the
drying period. Finally, set the
shoes aside IN 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 thoroughly dry"
Considering the cost of shoes, the
to everyone of knowing
how to get the most service out OF
a pair of shoes is obvious.
In other phases of the bureaus
research work the general public
is indirectly concerned, as in the
sugar cane syrup Investigations.
anonymously enough, this syrup
project seems likely to affect south
ern growers first. The cotton boil
weeyil which has so devastated cot
ton fields IN some southern states
has discouraged many growers.
They know that if the land is plant
ed in different crops for several
seasons the boil weeyil will die off
from starvation and disappointment
The problem is to find suitable
and profitable crop to replace the
cotton.
Sugar cane is one possible crop,
and the bureau of chemistry's syrup
show cane growing
as one solution of the cotton grow
ers' dilemma.
Sweet Potato Syrup Next.
Sweet potato syrup is another