808 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 38 



with other seed meals used for stock I'eed, analysis sbowinc;; moisture T.in, asli 

 4.64, protein 37, niti'Ogen-free extract 29.1, and liber 22.11 per cent. By incor- 

 poratini,- the dried skins with the meal, the annual amount available as feed 

 stuff would be about 3.000 tons. 



The accumulation of tomato residue occurs principally in the North Central 

 and North Atlantic States. The author of the bulletin suggests that the reduc- 

 tion of waste material to oil and meal could best be handled by establishing 

 a reducing plant at some central point in each of these sections. In view of 

 the threatened shortage of fatty oils, it is suggested as an economic measure 

 of both agricultural and industrial importance that the utilization of this 

 mater ip.l be considered. 



The utilization of waste tomato seeds and skins, F. Rabak {Chem. Neios, 

 in (1918), No. SO-'iO, pp. 100-10Jf).—A condensation of the above article. 



The effect of incomplete distillation on the yield of products in the de- 

 structive distillation of birch, R. C. Palmer {Jour. Indus, and Engin. CJiem., 

 10 (1918), No. Ii, pp. 260-262). — Semicommercial laboratory distillations were 

 made with birch in which the distillation was stopped before completion and 

 the brands obtained redistilled. 



The results showed that the combined effect of the distillation in two steps 

 gave practically the same yields of valuable products as when the distillation 

 was completed in one step. The order in which the products were formed in 

 the destructive distillation process is foinnic acid, acetic acid, tar soluble in 

 pyroligneous acid, wood alcohol, and oily tar. 



The influence of moisture on the yield of products in the destructive dis- 

 tillation of hardwood, R. C. Palmee and H. Cloukey (Jour. Indus, and Engin. 

 Chem., 10 (1918), No. //, pp. 262-2(j4).— Uncontrolled and controlled destructive 

 distillations were made with beech, birch, and maple, one lot of which had been 

 seasoned for about IS months and the other for about 8 months. In uncon- 

 trolled distillation the maximum fire was kept under the retort until the lar 

 point was well established, and the fire was then checked so that the distillation 

 was completed largely by means of the exothermic reaction. In the controlled 

 distillation the fire was checked at the first indications of tar in the distillate 

 and the firing so regulated that after that point the rate of rise in tempera- 

 ture was appreciably lower than in uncontrolled distillations. The effects of 

 moisture and control on the yields of the various products were as follows: 



The highest yields of acetic acid from beech and maple were obtained with 

 carefully controlled distillations after moderate seasoning; with birch the 

 amount of seasoning did not seem to affect the total yield. The highest yields 

 of formic acid were obtained from rapid uncontrolled distillation, particularly 

 in the case of beech. Excess of moisture gave higher yields of alcohol in the 

 case of beech, and in uncontrolled distillation, of maple. The drier wood gave 

 more alcohol in the case of- birch, and in controlled distillation, of maple. 

 Excess of moisture gave a lower yield of tar in maple and birch and of char- 

 coal in maple and beech. 



The effect of catalyzers on the yield of products in the destructive distil- 

 lation of hardwoods, R. C. Palmek (Jour. Indu^. and Engin. Clwm., 10 (191S), 

 No. 4, pp. 26Jf-26S). — Preliminary laboratory experiments were made for the 

 purpose of studying the influence of hydrolytic catalyzers on the formation of 

 wood alcohol, acetic acid, etc., (1) during the primary reaction occurring in the 

 destructive distillation of wood and (2) during any secondary reactions that 

 take place between the original products. Experiments were also made on the 

 distillation of wood in the presence of wood tar in a study of the possibility of 

 splitting off methyl groups from the tar to form methyl alcohol. Maple and 



