OCR Text |
Show Uses for Tomato Refuse IX THE canning of tomatoes and the manufacture of catsup there Is much waste in the form of seeds and skins. How great is the quantity of such refuse may be judged from the fact that in Indiana alone 120,000 tons of tomatoes are "pulped" annually, yielding as a by-product (hitherto deemed worthless) 624 tons of seeds and 732 tons of skins'. A beginning has been made in the utilization of this refuse, which is available for valuable pui poses. After drying, it is passed through machines (with sieves and fans) that separato the skins from the seeds. From the latter is obtained fhy pressing) press-ing) an oil that, when lefined and bleached, is excellent for table use. It is good for cooking. In a cruder state It makes first-class soap and may be turned to account in the manufacture of paints and varnishes. The "cake" left in tho press after the oil has been squeezed out of the seeds affords a highly nutritious cattle feed. In tho preparation of such feed the skins are mixed In with the seed residue. In view of the present shortage of oils for the making of soaps, etc., the Department of Agriculture strongly recommends the saving and use of to mato-seed oil. By chemical means tho seeds can be made to yield 22 per cent of their weight in oil. |