The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-05-07
FARMING GROWS MORE CHEMICAL

Farming is a natural chemical process when analysed
down to its essential nature. Combination Of clements
contained in the soil are what build up the plant, tney
are the magic process which creates the fruit ana the
seed, ready for the cycle of reproduction and growth TO
repeat itself. More and more direct chemistry Is being
anplied to agriculture. Sometimes the possibility OF com.
pounding foods direct out Of chemical elements is vi
stoned by the drcamers of science. When that day ar
rivcs, farming will be a purely laboratory process. Mean
while the chemistry that enters into the processes OF
agriculture makes steady progress IN the course OF art-
fetal application over the slower natural processes.
There is another side to the chemistry Of the farm and
that is in the derivation of chemical products from the
produce of agriculture. The part that this chemical pro-
duction is playing in the economy Of the farm was
stressed at the recent meeting of the American Chemical
society at Columbus, Ohio. Major T. p. Walker. an
authority on various forms OF commercial chemistry,
spoke on the increased utilization Of farm products in
this form OF industry. Speaking Of the direct production
Of many raw chemical products direct on the farm. the
major said that the increased processing Of other prod
ucts is going to be Of benefit to the farmer but 1t is not
going to fill the role Of messiah to the industry Of the
soil.
Corn and cotton, so far, are the major crops entering
into chemical utilization of farm products. Corn crops,
once converted into whisky, now are converted into SOL
vent; fer US in the lacquer industry. The production Of
butyl alcohol, acetone and ethyl alcohol by fermentation
consume annually 100000 to 100000 bushels Of corn,
Is per cent as much as was formerly employed IN the
manufacture Of spirituous liquors.
More than so chemical products are derived from the
corn kernel. The chemical manufactures include such
articles as table oil, soap and glycerine, rubber substi-
tutc, fertilizer. starch, corn syrup, tanners sugar and
vegetable glue.
At IT,. present time II companies in the United States
are engaged in the manufacture Of corn products such
as starch. corn syrup. corn oil. About 100000 to
85.Oc1 1000 bushels. one-third Of the corn that reaches the
primary market, is employed in this industry.
The growth Of the nitrocellulose lacquer industry, with
its resultant demand for solvents. has added q corn-con-
Stunning chemical industry. which consumes annually
eight to ten million bushels.
Total corn consumption by American industries IS q
whole is between 100000 and loo,ooo,ooo bushels an
nua.ly.
It is estimated that the nine states in the corn belt
yield enough stalks annually to produce 100000 tons
Of pape-. But it is probable that it would not prove
economical or feasible to utilize them except in the most
favorabl, location, because Of the cost Of collecting and
transporting such bulky material.
The other large agricultural crop, cotton. is one OF the
most important products Of material with which the
chemist works.
Formerly cotton was raised solely for the lint used in
the weaving Of cloth, and the seeds were allowed to rot
In immense heaps around the cotton gins. They were
such m extensive refuse at one time as to necessitate the
passage Of sanitary laws providing for their disposal.
Cotton seeds now produce refined oils. synthetic stearin,
soap and soap powders. nitroslycertn. roofing paint. writ
ing paper. nitrocellulose. smokeless powder. gun cotton.
lacquers, artificial leather. celluloid. rayon and photo
graph; films.