and some finely divided combustible material. The use of cornstarch closely resembles conditions found in starch factories. Finely divided coal, flour, and other similar substances may be substituted for the cornstarch, thereby giving a wide range of similar possibilities.
THE PREPARATION OF A W O O D CHAR WILLIAM LWM EVANS
AND
JESS*: E. DAY, THBOHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, COLUMBUS, orno
The selection of a char, activated or otherwise, to be used in the quantitative synthesis of carbon dioxide as described by some of us' in a previous article has been attended with difficulties in this laboratory. We have since learned by eperiment that about 0.5 g. of wood char suitable for this experiment can be made by placing about 20 safety matches (with the heads removed) on a wire gauze and carefully heating them until a smoke is no longer observed. This product is forthwith placed in a weighing tube for immediate use in the carbon dioxide exercises. Evans, et al., THE JOURNAL, 2, 932-5 (Oct., 1925).
Cotton Growing Must Stop in Southeast, Says Chemist. King Cotton must abdicate in what was once considered to be the very heart of his realm, the southeastern states. From central Mississippi eastward, it costs so much to grow cotton that the high-priced product cannot compete with the low-priced cellulose now being manufactured from woad and soon to be made from cornstalks. This thesis was boldly laid down before the annual meeting of the leaders of the naval stores interests, by Dr. William J. Hale, director of organic chemical research of the Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich. "The old practice of raising cotton in this section seems destined to obsolescence," said Dr. Hale. "The cast of growing cotton in this section is approximately ten cents per pound and yet you must face the inroads of alpha cellulose from woody fiber offered on the market a t eight cents. Millions of pounds of cotton will be displaced from industrial use this year in the manufacture of rayon and nitrating paper. Even cotton linters a t four cents per pound cannot compete long, but possibly a t two cents may still find considerable use. I n other words, cotton must be driven to ten or twelve cents per pound if i t is to hold its position in the textile world." Cotton will still hold its own west of the Mississippi, where it can be produced a t five or six cents per pound, the speaker stated. I n the Southeast, its cultivation can be continued a t a profit for some years to come an the larger plantations, but the smaller farmer will do well to look about a t once for other crops. Dr. Hale recommended, especially, peanuts, which can he pressed for a high-grade food oil. Their shells also have good potentialities as industrial material. Sugar cane, where it can be grown, and sorghum to the north of the sugar cane belt were other suggestions. Besides their yield of sugar and molasses, these plants are coming into an immense demand as sources of fiber for artificial lumber.-Science Service
