348 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



During the last year an investigation was made of the composition 

 of the free fatty acids and the nonglyceride constituents of crude 

 cottonseed oil. Results of work on the chemical composition of 

 soy-bean oil and of sunflower-seed oil were published during the 

 year. An extensive research on the composition of the oil from chuf a 

 tubers was completed. A paper on lard and its relation to vegetable 

 oils was published. 



CITKUS FRUITS. 



Work on the development of methods for the profitable utilization 

 of cull and surplus oranges and lemons was continued. How this 

 work has aided in the establishment of industries manufacturing 

 useful products from oranges and lemons, thus providing a profitable 

 outlet for fruit that would otherwise go to waste, has been covered 

 in the reports for previous years. 



During the last fiscal year the work was directed to the perfection 

 of the method for the commercial production of pectin from waste 

 orange and lemon peel. Pectins produced by various methods have 

 been standardized as to their jellying power, and work has been done 

 on the production of jellies of diflPerent consistency. Attention was 

 given to the preparation of marmalades and jellies from dehydrated 

 oranges. The effect of different temperatures and the length of time 

 of dehydration upon the pectin content has been studied. New 

 methods for the preparation of marmalade and orange butter have 

 been evolved through the work on the production of pectin. 



Preliminary work on the analyses of California orange and lemon 

 oils has been undertaken. 



CASSINA. 



Cassina {Ilex vomiforia), a shrub-like plant which grows wild 

 in profusion in the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast States, is believed 

 to have great economic possibilities. Its leaves when properly cured 

 resemble yerba mate or Paraguayan tea, millions of pounds of 

 which are consumed annually in South American countries, especially 

 Argentine and Chile. The development of an export and domestic 

 trade in the cured cassina has inviting possibilities. 



The technological processes for utilizing cassina have been de- 

 veloped to a high degree of efficiency, the process of manufacturing 

 black cassina having been much improved during the past year. It 

 has been demonstrated that it is practical to manufacture on a com- 

 mercial scale the cured leaves of the cassina from which a delightful 

 beverage, flavoring sirup, and concentrated extract can be made. 

 This extract has been used as a flavor in the manufacture of ice 

 cream with most promising results. 



The development of a market for new foods and drinks is always 

 a slow process. The question of whether a profitable domestic cas- 

 sina industry will be established now depends upon finding an ade- 

 quate market for the cassina products. The indications are that 

 such a market may be developed in time. The foreign market for 

 mate with which it will compete is already established. It would 

 seem, therefore, that all that can be done by a Government agency has 

 been accomplished. It now remains for private concerns to under- 

 take the development of what may become a great national industry. 



