| Show 1 War to o Solve f Farm Problem I X Substitutes From Crops to toBe toBe Be Forced by Shortages I In Raw Materials t WASHINGTON WASHINGTON American American genius and inventiveness finds an opportunity opportunity opportunity in in the war ovar to apply some of the thc proposed remedies for or curing one of the nations nation's severest headaches head head- aches surplus aches surplus farm products During the last decade agriculture agriculture ture has hns been plagued by warehouses ware i houses elevators and bins overflowing overflow- overflow Is ing with supplies of cotton wheat corn tobacco and other farm prod- prod ut m only at ruinously v lo prices prices This situation was reflected reflected reflected re re- re- re in economic instability in inmany inmany many rural areas necessitating huge expenditures e b by the government govern govern- government ment on relief and price insuring crop programs Scientists and technicians suggested suggest suggest- f ed cd that this problem of surplus would be solved at least partially if new industrial uses could be developed rr for farm products Much laboratory labora labora- F tory tort tor work ahead already had been done donet t f along this lin line both by governmental tal experiment stations and by private private vate atc industry Yi Seek Seel Sources at Home flaw materials normally secured from abroad may become difficult or impossible to secure Industry is turning to possible a sources at home It is beginning to toI I t adopt many o of the suggestions of scientists for use of farm products product J The fhe most notable is the use of corn cornin cornin i 1 in making industrial alcohol It is fa I quite possible that by the time the war is over American grain rather than imported molasses will be the major source of the country's alcohol alcohol alco alco- I hol hole supply and possibly an important 4 I tant source of supply for motor fuel as well The war has started scientists exploring ex ex- 1 the thc field of so solid id fuel also allo f. f Here Herc starch offers an interesting t k I possibility It is produced on every 5 farm in this country in the form of corn wheat other grains potatoes potato and ard other crops Threatened shortage of p paper ki io i developing new interest in making J paper from rom such raw materials as asi I i corn stalks wheat straw and cotton cottoni i plants The quantity of stalks and straws produced in this country f 1 each year is several times the amount needed to make all the paper pa po per that is needed Heretofore it I has been more economical to us use wood r Seek Substitute Starch Agriculture department authorities authorities ties estimate that American farms farm produce annually about tons of products by-products that tha t provide a potential source of supply for manufactured manufactured manu manu- products This includes straw stalks s alks husks cobs cottonseed cotton cotton- F- F seed hulls and 10 sugar-cane sugar peanut hulls Agricultural leaders hope that the war will expedite the manufacture r of starch from potatoes so that a large part of the pounds of imported root starch may be rePlaced replaced replaced re re- placed by domestic production t Agriculture department production goa oa s for 1942 call for increases of 4 acres of soybeans and t acres of peanuts With avI average av av- I I yields these increases would r provide an additional J pounds s of oil fe By shutting oil ofT Japanese silk the conflict is increasing the use of cotton cotton cot cot- ton in clothing One notable example exam exam- P pIe le is full-fashioned full cotton hose The result may be a larger permanent market for the cotton farmer |
