546 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



acotic ncid was found to be about 50 per cent greater than tliat ob- 

 tained commercially. The reason for this increased yield is not yet 

 known. 



With a view to reducing the cost of hardwood distillation, and at 

 the same time extracting more refined products, the effect of repeated 

 distillations of alcohol with and without alkalies and the neutraliza- 

 tion of acetic acid with some agent less caustic than calcium oxide 

 were studied. It appears that the acid vapor may be treated with 

 calcium carbonate in such a manner as to secure a calcium acetate 

 of a high degree of refinement, and at the same time separate tho 

 alcohol liquors in one distillation, instead of in two, as heretofore 

 required. 



Extraction experiments are being made on the leaves of various 

 conifers of the Pacific coast. The yields of commercially valuable 

 oil thus far secured, however, are so small that it is doubtful whether 

 the extraction can be conducted profitably by a commercial plant. 

 Experiments will be continued until more definite results are 

 obtained. 



One of the most promising means for profitably utilizing wood 

 waste is the production of ethyl alcohol. To ascertain Avhether the 

 production of ethyl alcohol from sawdust is commercially feasible, 

 and, if so, what are the best methods of procedure, apparatus is 

 being installed at the laboratory for conducting experiments on a 

 large scale. 



NAVAL STORES. 



Experiments in the tapping of western species for the production 

 of naval stores, begim in 1010, w^ere continued on a more extensive 

 scale. During the turpentine season of 1911 systematic experiments 

 were conducted on western yellow pine in Arizona, and on both wes<- 

 ern yellow pine and piiion pine in Colorado. The flow from digger 

 and Jeffrey pine in California is being studied the present season. 

 The results of the Arizona and Colorado experiments were described 

 last year. Since then oleoresins obtained from the various species 

 in the tapping experiments have been subjected to a thorough analy- 

 sis. Of the oils examined, that from western yellow pine from 

 Arizona conforms most nearly to ordinary turpentine, and it is 

 likely that both the California and Arizona oils will serve the pur- 

 poses for which ordinary turpentine is commonly used. 



WOOD PULP AND PAPER. 



Results from experiments Avith jack pine and hemlock for ground 

 wood pulp, begun last year, have demonstrated conclusively that 

 these two w^oods can be made into the cheaper grades of paper by 

 practically the same methods used in grinding spruce pulp. Since 

 the results of the tests have become known at least one mill has 

 begun grinding these woods. A number of other species which are 

 available for use as pulp wood are now being studied. 



Practice among mills manufacturing ground wood pulp differs 

 widely, even when the same species of wood are used and the same 

 products turned out. With this in mind, a thorough study was 

 made of the effects of the condition of the surface of the pulp stone, 

 the pressure with which wood is forced upon the stone, the tempera- 



