TECHNICAL CHEMISTRY. 441 



merits. In the straw of our wheat and oats crops, which is to-day 

 largely destroyed on the fields, we have another source of cellulose of 

 which we avail ourselves but little. In Europe the production of- 

 straw fiber is carried on to some extent, but is capable of great exten- 

 sion should sufficient economy in the process for treating it be intro- 

 duced. The high content of silica has ever been a source of loss, owing 

 to the fact that the formation of sodium silicate prevents the recovery 

 of the soda now used in the digestion of the straw. 



By far the greatest loss of valuable cellulose, however, is found in 

 waste cornstalks and in bagasse, or in the sugar-cane after the soluble 

 portions have been removed. There is a close analogy between these two 

 products in that there is associated with the woody portion carrying 

 the cellulose a large amount of non-usable pith. Kapid progress has 

 been made in the utilization of both of these raw materials within the 

 last few years^ and the indications are that before long they will prove 

 a source of value rather than a nuisance as is frequently the case at 

 present. The market price of bleached cellulose fiber is to-day from 

 two and a half to three and a half cents per pound. Starch may be 

 bought for from two and a half to four cents, according to its source. 

 It is seen, therefore, that there is little manufacturing margin in the 

 conversion of cellulose into starch or sugar until the cost of the former 

 has been considerably reduced. This can come about only through 

 new processes designed to operate more economically than those at 

 present in use and to use as raw products the cellulose at present wasted 

 on the fields. 



It would seem that a more economical step towards the production 

 of food from wood might be through its ligneous or non-cellulose con- 

 stituents. For every ton of cellulose produced there must be used two 

 tons of wood; that is, an equal weight is wasted. In the soda process 

 as now conducted these non-cellulose materials are burned to recover 

 the soda which is held in combination with them. In the sulphite 

 process this enormous amount of material, aggregating for America 

 alone in a single year almost one million tons, finds its way into the 

 water courses and ultimately to the ocean. This organic matter is 

 most complex in its composition, but consists largely of one class of 

 substances closely allied to the sugars, and another class having the 

 general characteristics of tannins. That these sugar like substances 

 could be made to yield a food material is from their nature quite pos- 

 sible; so far as we know, however, but little has been accomplished in 

 this direction. A number of uses have from time to time been pro- 

 posed for this waste, but as yet none has been of practical value. 

 Among the more promising may be mentioned a preparation to be used 

 in tanning leather, a sizing material for paper and. a substitute for 

 dextrine in calico printing and as an adhesive. 



VOL. lxvi. — 29. 



