Evening star., 1942-07-23
Of Stars, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Laboratory, Field
And Study
By Thomas r. Henru.

And Study
By Thomas r. Henry.
Two months ago an airplane scared
over the rooftops of Kuibyshev, Russia's
temporary capital, with precious bur-
den-two burlap bags filled with dan
delion seeds.
A few days later those seeds reached
washington, where eager hands were
waiting to unload them and reship them
by air to so places in the United States
and Canada where seed plots already
had been prepared for their instant
planting
Now they are sprouting, after special
treatments devised by Russian scientists.
They were seeds of the Russian dan
delion, from the milky exudation of
which rubber can be made at a yield of
from 30 to 60 pounds per acre.
The Department of Agriculture scien-
lists supervising the go tests have no
idea taat this plant means solution
of the rubber problem but. if the expert
ments turn out successfully, it can be
relied on to furnish in the next few
years an appreciable amount OF the
badly needed material
Its yield, at the BEST is far less than
that of the heavea rubber tree and
considerably less than that of the
Mexican shrub guayule. But heavea
trees grow only in the tropics, do not
come isto profitable production for
seven or eight years, are subject to
devastating disease, and there is
problem of putting additional burdens on
already cramped transportation. About
four years must elapse before the er-
ratio guayule can be harvested profit
ably. 1t grows well only at a few To-
calities in the continental United States,
The Russian dandelion, it is expected.
Will grow over large area of the
Northern and Western States and may
even thrive in Alaska. It is an annual.
producing rubber in one year. Most
Important of all, practically no new
machinery or plant equipment will be
required. This is the greatest draw
back in large scale production OF the
synthetic rubbers.
Judging from Russian experience. the
dandeion will grow we'll through prac-
tlcally all the area now devoted to sugar
beets and practically the same machin-
cry used in sugar refining can be used
In extracting the rubber. Harvesting
seasons can be arranged so that these
plants can be kept busy in off-seasons
and at the Same time the beet farmers
WILL have a reasonably profitable extra
crop, at least until heavea latex comes
into full production again.
There is nothing mysterious about this
Russian dandelion, say Department of
Agriculture specialists Supericialy it
looks almost exactly like the common
pest OF American lawns. There are
hundreds Of species Of dandelions scat
tered over the earth, differing only in
minor details. This one happens to
come from the Tian Shan mountains
of the republic of Kazakstan in Central
Asia. There is rubber in all dande-
lions. This one. Russian botanists de-
termined, had slightly higher content
than any other species growing in Rus
sian territory. Starting about 1880 they
started breeding experiments to increase
this yield.
There is little doubt, the Department
OF Agriculture specialists say, that Just
as good results could have been obtained
with the common American dandelion.
The United States did not need rubber.
however, and there was no economic in
centive to research. However, when the
first reports OF dandelion rubber began
coming from Russia in 1882 the Depart
ment Of Agriculture tried to obtain some
improved seed. The Russians guarded
it zealously. Only the good offices of
Ambassador Litvinof cleared the way
for the experimental shipment which
now has been planted.
Doubtless, the Government botanists
believe. the dandelion will grow almost
anywhere in the United States and
Canada, except in the desert and In the
Arctic. But, as is the case with guayule,
there is no evidence that It will Weld
worthwhile amounts of rubber every-
where and the present tests are to de-
termine where maximum growth coupled
with maximum latex content can be OBJ
tained.
Even at the best 1t hardly could be
considered profitable crop in normal
times. Sixty pounds of rubber an acre,
when the cost Of harvesting and process
Ing Is considered, would bring very little
return to the farmer.
Large-scale paintings. it is hoped, can
be made in 1943. Arrangements have
been made for shipment OF several tons
OF the featherweight seed from MUIR
mansk by way OF Iceland and from
Bazra. at the head of the Persian Gulf,
by way of Cape Town These seeds
will be distributed in the areas the
tests show most suitable. Some, it is
eYnocfad will ho cont tn c.,,&L a-.