A Dkcenniai- 1{kc'()K1) <50 



j)r()(liict have yet })een discovered. Tlie growing scarcity of liardwoods 

 makes tlie problem of its future supply increasingly acute. The labora- 

 tory has given some study to the different processes now used in wood 

 distillation, and during the ])ast year it has developed certain modifi- 

 cations which indicate that the yield of wood alcohol from a given 

 (quantity of wood may be increased about 50 per cent over the present 

 normal production. It is important that this whole field be studied 

 more comprehensively than the lalioratory is now able to do. not only 

 in order that processes may be made more efficient, but that the pro- 

 ductive value of new woods may be determined. 



Still another field, in which better methods of utilization are 

 urgent, embraces the turpentine and rosin industry. This industry 

 is in a precarious situation because of the rapid exhaustion of southern 

 yellow pine wdiich is its main and practically oidy source of supply. 

 Xot only is it one of the oldest industries in the country but it gives 

 the Ignited States the leadership in the world in the ])roduction of 

 turpentine and rosin. It is imbued with old ideas and in many cases 

 is following old customs wdth consequent waste of raw^ material. 

 While the laboratory has already developed methods which have elim- 

 inated some of this \vaste and have increased the yield of both turpen- 

 tine and rosin, further work is desirable in order that the life of the 

 industry may be prolonged by developing maximum production from 

 the longleaf pine timber now remaining. 



There are many other lines which give promise of reclaiming 

 wood now wasted and of increasing the value of products already 

 being reclaimed. Among these may be mentioned studies to improve 

 fire boxes and grates so as to get the maximum heat from wood waste 

 when burned in fire plants: the production from wood of absor])ent 

 and decolorizing charcoal; the effect of various species used in food 

 containers on the odor and taste of the cfmtents. and the methods of 

 treating wood to remove odor and taste: and methods for decolorizing 

 rosin obtainable from pine stumps, thus making it comparable to that 

 obtained from the living tree. 



The VtUhatiou of Wood for Pulp and Paper 



It is unnecessary to call attention to tlie importance to the nation 

 of the pulp and paper industry. Its ])roducts weave into every other 



