1918.] The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. 181 
Wheat .—A bushel of wheat should produce rather more than 2 gallons 
of alcohol; and if obtained at 4s. per bushel, which was approximately 
the price in 1912 and 1913, the alcohol made from it would cost at least 
2s. 6d. per gallon, allowing 6d. per gallon for manufacture, or double the 
price at which it could compete with petrol. 
Potatoes .—Turning now to potatoes as a possible source of alcohol, 
1 ton of potatoes should produce approximately 27 gallons of alcohol, at 
a cost of about 6d. per gallon for manufacture. Therefore, to compete 
with petrol the potatoes would require to be bought at not more than 
£1 7s. per ton ; but the selling-price of potatoes in 1913-14 was about 
£3 to £5 per ton f.o.b. Lyttelton, and they would probably be worth at 
least £2 to £4 on the farm. 
Sugar .—Refined sugar is, of course, out of the question for this purpose, 
but molasses is a very cheap form of sugar largely used for the production 
of alcohol. The amount of molasses imported into New Zealand of late 
years has been about 1,300 tons per year, and the amount produced here 
about 100 tons. The price is £3 5s. per ton. This molasses contains 
approximately 52 per cent, of total sugars. One ton would yield approxi¬ 
mately 62 gallons of absolute alcohol, at a cost of about Is. per gallon for 
materials and 3d. to 5d. for manufacture, bringing the total cost per gallon 
to Is. 3d. or to Is. 5d. Considerable quantities of alcohol are produced 
from this source in Queensland— e.g ., 648,000 gallons were distilled in 1914 
and 442,000 gallons in 1915. 
Wood .—Of late years a large amount of experimental work has been 
done, especially in the United States, on the production of alcohol from 
sawdust and other waste wood. In 1914 the Du Pont de Nemours Power 
Company, of Georgetown, U.S.A., was said to be producing about 450,000 
gallons of alcohol per annum, but unfortunately I have no information 
in regard to the cost of production and selling-price. The yield of alcohol 
varies considerably with the kind of wood used, but it may be taken as 
averaging from 16 to 20 gallons per ton. 
Calcium Carbide .—On treating calcium carbide with water, acetylene is 
formed, and this gas can be converted into alcohol by suitable treatment. 
It is said that the Lonza Electric Company, Switzerland, intends to spend 
£450,000 on works for the production of alcohol in this manner. 
From the foregoing information it is evident that wheat is out of the 
question as a source of alcohol. Potatoes are in a somewhat better position, 
but are still too dear for the purpose. Damaged grain, damaged fruit, and 
inferior potatoes would no doubt be available in considerable quantities, 
but the cost of transport would be prohibitive, except for products grown 
within a comparatively short distance of a factory. 
As already stated, alcohol could no doubt be prepared in New Zealand from 
molasses at a comparatively small cost, but the amount of molasses produced 
here is far too small to be used as the main source of commercial alcohol. 
The imported molasses need not be considered in this connection, since it 
would no doubt be far cheaper to prepare the alcohol in the country in which 
the molasses is produced. This is evident when we consider that the yield 
of alcohol is only one-fifth to one-quarter of the weight of the molasses. 
The production of alcohol from waste wood in New Zealand is well 
worthy of consideration, but until a thorough investigation of the quantities 
and suitability of the various timbers available is made no reliable opinion 
can be formed on the subject. 
With regard to the production of alcohol on a commercial scale from 
calcium carbide, it would, I think, be a mistake to investigate this question 
in New Zealand until larger countries have proved the process. 
