EDITORIAL. 
NEW INDUSTRY. 
It is interesting to know that, as a direct result of the researches 
carried out by the Institute of Science and Industry on the utilization 
of Zamia palms, a company has erected a factory on the south coast of 
New South Wales, and is commencing operations for the conversion 
of raw starch from the Zamia palm with the promise of an important 
and successful industry being established. The New South Wales 
Forestry Commissioner has granted a licence to the Austral Starch 
Company to obtain Zamia bulbs from an area of about 31,000 acres 
in the vicinity of Currawan. The licence has a period of ten years, 
and is subject to the satisfactory observation of conditions, and include 
the erection of a local factory or factories within six months, and the 
manufacture of not less than 50 tons of dry starch half-yearly. Par- 
ticulars of the investigations carried out by the Institute were published 
in Sctence and Industry, Vol. 1, No. 8, December, 1919, pages 470 
to 475. 
LESPEDEZA AS A FORAGE CROP. 
Lespedeza, as a forage crop, is a subject of a bulletin recently issued 
by the United States of America Department of Agriculture: Its 
scientific name is Lespedeza striata, and it is commonly known by the 
name Japan Clover. It is recommended as one of the most valuable 
forage plants for the south-eastern part of the United States. Except 
on alluvial bottom lands, it does not make sufficient growth to justify 
its being cut for hay; nevertheless, its widespread adaptation to grazing 
' conditions gives it a value that is difficult to estimate. It will grow in 
open woodlands, on the poorest of upland hills, along roadsides, and in 
other waste places. Although an annual plant, it produces sufficient 
seed even under close grazing to re-seed itself, and is, therefore, as use- 
ful as if it were a perennial. Being a legume, it is valuable for soil 
improvement, and also it is relished by all classes of live stock.. On-the 
southern markets lespedeza hay has been well and favorably known for 
several years, The growing of lespedeza should be encouraged in «ll 
the pastures of the south, especially in the cut-over pinelands of the 
coastal plain. It may also be utilized to advantage as a hay crop on 
the rich-bottom lands of the Gulf States. It is slow in starting in the 
spring, 'but makes its best growth during the hottest part of the summer, 
when grass plants are likely to be dormant. 
PROPOSED GERMAN CHEMICO-TECHNICAL LABORATORY... 
A memorial has been presented to the German National Assembly 
urging the formation of an Imperial Chemico-technical Laboratory, 
which it is recommended should be formed from the Military Test 
Bureau which existed during the war. “Nature,” quoting from the 
Zeits des Vereines deuscher Ingenieure, says that it is suggested that. 
the functions of the new laboratory should be, inter alia, the execution 
of scientific and technical investigations relative to raw materials, and 
particularly (1) the production of materials of importance to the 
- public, e.g., spirit from wood and acetylene instead of from potatoes, 
and of fatty acids from the products of coal—or lignite-tar or paraffin— 
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