286 THE POTATO 



alcohol, ether, or other solvent, and in this con- 

 dition is forced through small orifices, producing 

 fine fibres of a silky lustre. 



"Dilute alcohol, commonly known as low wines, 

 can be utilized for the manufacture of vinegar. 

 For this purpose the dilute alcohol is made to pass 

 over the fresh shavings of beech wood. 



"The flavoring extracts of commerce are made 

 largely with alcohol as a solvent." 



In "Farmers' Bulletin 268" is the following by 

 the same author: 



"The term 'industrial alcohol' is used for brevity, 

 and also. because it differentiates sharply between 

 alcohol used for beverages or for medicine and 

 alcohol used for technical purposes in the arts. 



"The process of rendering alcohol unsuitable 

 for drinking is called 'denaturing,' and consists, 

 essentially, in adding to the alcohol a substance 

 soluble therein of a bad taste or odor, or both, of 

 an intensity which would render it impossible or 

 impracticable to use the mixture as a drink. 



"The substance should also be of such a char- 

 acter that it is difficult to remove it entirely from 

 the alcohol by any usual process of distillation. 



"Industrial alcohol, therefore, is a product 

 which is the joint work of the farmer and the 

 manufacturer. The function of the farmer con- 

 sists in the production of the raw materials from 

 which the alcohol is to be made. The manufac- 

 turer takes these raw materials and converts them 

 into alcohol. This is done under the supervision 

 and control of the Bureau of Internal Revenue of 

 the Treasury Department. 



"The number of substances which hare been 



