SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
UTILIZATION OF WOOL SCOURING WASTE. 
Although the demand for economy in the United States of America, 
as in other countries, is insistent, and while the appropriation for very 
many activities of the Bureau of Agriculture at Washington has been 
reduced, the vote for investigational work of a scientific nature has been 
increased. One of the problems engaging attention in that country, as. 
well as in ‘Australia, is the development of methods in utilizing wool 
scouring wastes that may ultimately mean an enormous saving to the 
industry. Provision is made for this work to be carried on. During 
the war the price of wool grease rose from 23 cents to 25 or 28 cents. 
a lb., and the price of carbonate of potash rose from 4 or 5 cents to 80 
or 85 cents a lb. The result was that a number of plants were installed 
for the recovery of wool grease and potash salts. Before that time 
these products had gone to waste, and the United States imported all 
of both products consumed. Not only was there a dead loss, but the 
waste material had become a source of serious pollution to rivers and 
other streams. The plants built to handle this business during the- 
war when prices were very high must install the most economical methods 
for extracting the by-products of the wool scouring wastes if they are: 
to continue in operation at the lowered prices expected when normal 
conditions are restored. These economical methods are to be worked 
out by the Department of Agriculture under the new appropriation of 
$9,000. Every year it is estimated there has been lost to the United 
States 50,000,000 Ibs. of recoverable wool grease. At present prices, 
this is worth about $8,000,000. There was lost every year, also, about. 
2,500,000 lbs. of potassium carbonate, worth at present prices about. 
$6,250,000. : 
THE DYE INDUSTRY. 
A substantial increase is made in the appropriation for dye investi- 
gations. This year’s appropriation is $100,000, as against $70,000 last 
year. This increase was made so that the Bureau of Chemistry can 
complete the*erection and equipment of the dye-manufacturing ‘plant. 
at Arlington, Va. The dye investigations have resulted in the deyelop- 
ment of a number of important processes for the manufacture of coal 
tar dyes. Fifteen patents have been granted on new processes, and 
processes have been developed for the manufacture of intermediates, used 
in the making of dyes. Some of these processes are already in use on 
a commercial scale in the production of dyes and intermediates. Other 
processes which have been worked out on a small scale are being tried 
in a small commercial way, and later will be developed on a large: 
scale. Efforts will be made this year to develop new and cheaper 
processes. 
ENTOMOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS. 
The Bureau of Agriculture is developing entomological research. 
on a very large basis, and instead of allowing the investigations which 
have been initiated to be abolished, the Government has increased the. 
vote enormously. One appropriation of $250,000 has been made for- 
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