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Show oo MAKE PAPER FROM WIRE GRASS TOPS A new product for making paper has been found in zacaton grass, known also as broom root grass, wire grass and rice root grass, from the facts that the roots are extensively used in tho making of brooms and brushes. The tops, though, have hitherto hith-erto gone to waste. Now it is discovered discov-ered that these neglected tops make a fine grade of paper. Zacaton grass extends from California Cali-fornia and Texas southward to the Argentine Andes. It grows most profusely, pro-fusely, however, in the mountain reg-1 reg-1 ions east and west of tho City of y Mexico, where it Is harvested for tb sake of its roots. An acre of grass should yield n c least three tons of tops. The plaat V is a perennial one, the growth belnj , almost entirely from self-Bown seed - Unless checked by fire, cultivation o: the harvesting of roots, the grass will ! soon cover a field solidly, and it is not' r uncommon to findmany square mile ! ' -densely covered, w'lth the growth. Thi i range can be profitably gono over for "-roots "-roots every third year. ! Lahoratory testa of this grass coa. ; ducted, by the United States department, depart-ment, of agriculture show that It c bo chemically reduced to paper stock by the soda process more easily and ' with less expense than is necessary to reduce poplar wood. The same processes pro-cesses and methods which are employed em-ployed for the manufacture of pulp from poplar wood are quite suitable !( for the treatment of zacaton, hut In place of the wood-sawing, chipping -and. screening machinery, a grass , duster is necessary. The paper manufactured from the i . stock has proved as satisfactory In t physical tests as a first-grade, mi- ) i chine-finished printing paper. It hfc, , i moreover, a V6ry 9sei?y K? i I aroo and fo-Uas. I |