48 BROOM-CORN CULTURE 



tion of steam and chemicals, the time being three 

 to four hours as compared with eight to twelve 

 hours for wood pulp. 



The most serious disadvantage is the limited pro- 

 duction of the raw material, the total of which does 

 not amount to more than 1,000 tons for the entire 

 United States. 



The stalks when extracted for an hour under steam 

 pressure, yield a quantity of soluble solids which 

 contain practically all of the food value of the raw 

 material. These tests indicate that if they can be 

 secured in sufficiently large quantities, the broom- 

 corn stalks can be pulped at a profit without taking 

 into consideration the value of the food extract. 



