Evening star., 1942-03-31
Of Stors, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Laboratory, Field
And Study
BIZ Thomas r. Henri.

The chance observation Of q Presby-
terian missionary in China IS years ago
promises to place on American tables
and on the backs Of postage stamps .
substitute for tapioca which is better
than the original.
Tapioca imports are almost entirely
shut off since the capture OF the Dutch
East Indies. The United States usually
has consumed about 4000O0,000 pounds
a year. about 10000 900 of which has
come from Latin America.
The substitute, it is expected will come
from a strange variety Of Indian corn
the so-called "waxy corn"-which the
Rev. J. M. w. Farnham found one day
in 1907 while riding in the country
around Shanghai An amateur botanist,
he sent some seeds to the Department
OF Agriculture at Washington. 1T may
be found of some use in porridge," he
wrote.
The Government specialists found
some queer things about this corn. First,
when cut was made through q grain
the knife left waxy surface, in contrast
to all American varieties Of corn. The
maize kernel is mostly starch. So is
tapioca, but there are decided differences
between the two starches. When they
are soaked in Iodine one turns blue
and the other red-a technical difference
that may mean millions in the next
few years. The starch of the Chinese
corn turned red, like tapioca
This did not impress the specialists
at the time. They knew of no demand
for tapioca substitute, and the yield of
the new corn was very poor. From an
other viewpoint they were extremely in
tereSted. The origin Of corn is one of the
outstanding scientific mysteries. All that
can be said with certainty is that 1t
was developed by American Indians
from some crosses of native grasses
1t is perhaps the most domestic Of
plants and can only survive few years
when abandoned by man.
The interest in this strangely aberrant
grain was that it had appeared in China.
1t was probably the plant described as
'yu-shu-shu' in an ancient Chinese
botanical manual which said: From the
heart Of the stalk issues a sheath in the
form OF tung fish from which white,
waving beard grows out"
The discovery indicated very ancient
contacts between China and the New
World. Largely for this reason Rev. Mr..
Farnham's "waxy corn was preserved as
scientific curiousity. Meanwhile,
further experiments showed that its
starch was very similar to the starch
Of tapioca.
Tapioca starch has many essential
uses besides puddings 1t is widely en-
ployed in the sizing Of quality papers.
1t is almost necessary for the gum on
the backs OF postage stamps. Expert
mentS indicate the new corn starch
may do even better for both purposes.
Intensive experiments on the chem
istry Of this starch are in progress at the
Governments agricultural laboratory at
Peoria. III. Meanwhile. approximately
10000 bushels, the first mass production.
are being raised this summer at the
Ames Gowa) experiment station.
This has been made possible by the
experimental breeding which has gone
on since the first seeds were received.
The tapioca starch, it was found. is
strictly hereditary. Thus it has been
possible to breed 1t into some of the
best yielding varieties Of American corn
by methods largely developed by Vice
President Henry A. Wallace a few years
ago. The 10000 bushels are all that is
possible this year from the seed in
existence. Most Of it will be used as
tapioca substitute, while a new store of
seed is being produced for next years
planting by new crosses. This is essen
tial to keep up the vigor Of the stock.
Next year it is expected to attempt the
cultivation in several other corn-belt
States-thus providing . new crop for
American farmers