"Give Us Food"

The following day was set aside for a visit to the Accelerated Plant Growing Farms. It had been known for hundreds of years that certain plants, such as mushrooms, could be fully developed in a few days. Plant or vegetables grown under glass and the temperature within kept at a high point, would grow at great speed and be ready for the market long before those grown in the open.

The next day was set aside for a visit to the Accelerated Plant Growing Farms. For hundreds of years, people had known that certain plants, such as mushrooms, could fully develop in a few days. Plants or vegetables grown under glass at high temperatures grew very quickly. They were ready for market long before those grown outdoors.

But only recently, as Ralph explained to Alice, had it been possible to do this on a large scale. To be sure, certain vegetables, like asparagus, lettuce, peas, etc., had been produced in hothouses for hundreds of years, but these, after all, were rather luxuries, and could not be classed as essentials.

But as Ralph explained to Alice, only recently had it become possible to do this on a large scale. Vegetables such as asparagus, lettuce, and peas had been grown in greenhouses for hundreds of years. But these were luxuries, after all, not essentials.

When, about the year 2600, the population of the planet had increased tremendously and famines due to lack of such essentials as bread and potatoes had broken out in many parts of the world, it was found vitally necessary to produce such necessities on a larger scale and with unfailing regularity. These farms became known under the term of Accelerated Plant Growing Farms and were located in every part of the world. The first (and now obsolete) European and African farms were built along the lines of the old-fashioned hothouses. The European farms were simply horizontal steel-latticed roofs, with ordinary glass panes, permitting the sunlight to penetrate to the soil beneath. While covering huge acreages, they were not heated artificially, using only the sun's rays to accelerate plant growth. As compared with Nature's single crop of wheat or corn, two could be made to grow in the same season by means of these super hothouses.

Around the year 2600, the planet’s population had grown enormously. Famines caused by shortages of essentials such as bread and potatoes had broken out in many parts of the world. It became vital to produce these necessities on a larger scale and with reliable regularity. Farms known as Accelerated Plant Growing Farms were established throughout the world. The first European and African farms, now obsolete, were built like old-fashioned greenhouses. The European farms had flat roofs made of steel latticework and ordinary glass panes. These allowed sunlight to reach the soil beneath them. The farms covered huge areas but were not artificially heated. They used only the sun’s rays to speed plant growth. In nature, only one crop of wheat or corn could grow in a season. These super greenhouses made it possible to grow two crops in the same season.

Similar farms were used in America until Ralph undertook their study and approached the subject from a scientific angle. One of his first efforts was to obtain greater heat for these huge hothouses. One of these hothouses is about three miles long and the same width. Ralph took the existing hothouses, which were simply oblong steel and glass boxes, and built a second hothouse box covering each of them, thus creating a double-walled, air-locked hothouse. The second glass-paneled wall was about two feet inside the outer one. This left dead air locked between the walls, and as air is a poor heat conductor, the heat in the hothouse was retained longer, particularly during a cold night.

Similar farms were used in America until Ralph began studying them and approached the subject scientifically. One of his first efforts was to increase the heat in these huge hothouses. Each hothouse is about three miles long and three miles wide. The existing hothouses were simply rectangular boxes made of steel and glass. Ralph built a second hothouse box over each one, creating double walls with airtight spaces between them. The second glass-paneled wall was about two feet inside the outer wall. This trapped still air between the walls. Because air is a poor conductor of heat, the hothouse retained heat longer, particularly on cold nights.

Ralph and Alice left early in the morning, winging their way in an aeroflyer toward northern New York, where there were many Accelerated Plant Growing Farms. When the farms came into view, the entire country below, so far as the eye could see, appeared to be dotted with the glass-covered roofs of the plants, reflecting the sunlight and affording an unusual sight. Alice marveled at their number, for while she had seen some of these farms in Europe, she had never seen so many grouped together of such immensity.

Ralph and Alice left early in the morning, flying in an aeroflyer toward northern New York. There were many Accelerated Plant Growing Farms there. When the farms came into view, their glass roofs dotted the countryside as far as the eye could see. The roofs reflected the sunlight, creating an unusual sight. Alice marveled at how many there were. She had seen some of these farms in Europe, but never so many enormous farms grouped together.

Within a few minutes, they landed near one of the giant hothouses. The manager led them inside of the farm labeled No. D1569.

Within a few minutes, they landed near one of the giant hothouses. The manager led them inside the farm labeled No. D1569.

D1569 was exclusively a wheat growing farm. Where Mother Nature used to grow one crop of wheat a year, Ralph's latest Accelerator made it possible to grow four, and sometimes five crops a year. In the old-fashioned European farms such as Alice knew, only two crops could be grown.

D1569 was a farm that grew only wheat. Mother Nature used to grow one wheat crop a year. Ralph's latest Accelerator made it possible to grow four, and sometimes five, crops a year. On the old-fashioned European farms Alice knew, only two crops could be grown.

"How is it possible," she asked, "that you can obtain three more crops a year than we do in Europe?"

"How can you grow three more crops a year than we do in Europe?" she asked.

"In the first place," said Ralph, "it may be taken as an axiom that the more heat you supply to plant growth, the quicker it will grow. Cold and chilly winds retard plant growth. Electricity and certain chemicals increase the ratio of growth, a fact that has been known for many centuries. It is, however, the scientific application of this knowledge that makes it possible to raise five crops a year. The European farms use only the heat of the sun to stimulate plant growth, but during the night, when the temperature drops, growth is practically nil.

"First," said Ralph, "you can take it as a basic principle that the more heat plants receive, the faster they grow. Cold and chilly winds slow plant growth. Electricity and certain chemicals speed up growth, a fact known for many centuries. But the scientific application of this knowledge makes it possible to grow five crops a year. European farms use only the sun's heat to stimulate plant growth. But at night, when the temperature drops, growth practically stops.

"Notice that the top and sides of our hothouses have two walls. In other words, one hothouse is built within another. The air locked between the two hothouses is an excellent heat insulator and even though the sun is low at 4 o'clock, the temperature is practically unchanged in the hothouse, at 8 or 9 o'clock in the evening. Even in the winter, when the sun sets about 4 o'clock and it is cold, we are able to store up enough heat during the day to keep a high temperature as late as 7 and 8 o'clock. If we did nothing between the hours of 8 in the evening and 8 in the morning, the temperature would continue to fall to a point where no plant growth would be possible.

"Notice that the roofs and sides of our greenhouses have two walls. In other words, one greenhouse is built inside another. The air trapped between them is an excellent insulator. Even though the sun is low at 4 o'clock, the greenhouse temperature is almost unchanged at 8 or 9 that evening. In winter, the sun sets around 4 o'clock, and it is cold. Even then, we can store enough heat during the day to keep the temperature high until 7 or 8 o'clock. If we did nothing between 8 in the evening and 8 in the morning, the temperature would keep falling. It would eventually become too cold for plants to grow.

"Here in America we had to have a greater production to supply our huge population. It was a pure case of necessity. So we had to employ artificial heating during the night.

"Here in America, we needed to produce more to supply our huge population. It was simply a matter of necessity. So we had to use artificial heating at night.

"If we start sinking a shaft into the earth, the heat increases rapidly as we go down—more quickly in some parts of the world than others. On an average, the temperature rises about one degree Fahrenheit each 100 feet of depth. We found it economic, therefore, to use the earth's own heat to heat our farms.

"If we start digging a shaft into the earth, the heat increases rapidly as we go down. It rises faster in some parts of the world than in others. On average, the temperature rises about one degree Fahrenheit for every 100 feet of depth. So we found it economical to use the earth's own heat to warm our farms.

"By means of high speed drills, we can cut a three-foot shaft 3,000 feet deep in the earth in less than a month. We go down until we strike a temperature around 100 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Then we lower steel tanks into the cavity and run pipes up to the surface. The tanks are filled with water and two larger pipes run from each tank into the circulating system of pipes, around the lower walls throughout the length and breadth of the farms. The shafts are then closed at the top and we have a circulating system that is both cheap and efficient. The hot water continually rises into the pipes and circulates. As it cools, it flows down again into the tanks, where it is reheated and rises again. Thus the temperature of our farms is uniform all the year around and plant growth is as rapid during the night as during the day.

"Using high-speed drills, we can cut a three-foot-wide shaft 3,000 feet into the earth in less than a month. We go down until we reach a temperature of around 100 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Then we lower steel tanks into the shaft and run pipes up to the surface. We fill the tanks with water. Two larger pipes connect each tank to a system of circulating pipes. These pipes run around the lower walls throughout the farms. We then close the shafts at the top. The result is a cheap, efficient circulating system. Hot water continually rises into the pipes and circulates. As the water cools, it flows back down into the tanks, where it is reheated and rises again. This keeps the temperature of our farms uniform all year. Plants grow as quickly at night as they do during the day.

"Heat alone, however, is not sufficient. We should still get only a normal growth. We wanted five crops a year. I put my research forces to work studying fertilizers. While the old nitrogen fertilizers were excellent, they were not suitable for high pressure, high speed growing methods. We evolved chemicals which were both cheap and easy to apply. We found that small quantities of Termidon, when mixed with water and sprayed over the field by overhead sprayers, which you will see running along the ceiling, would accelerate the growth of the crops enormously.

"Heat alone, however, is not enough. It would still produce only normal growth. We wanted five crops a year. I set my research team to work studying fertilizers. The old nitrogen fertilizers were excellent, but they were not suitable for intensive, high-speed growing methods. We developed chemicals that were cheap and easy to apply. We found that small amounts of Termidon greatly accelerated crop growth when mixed with water and sprayed over the field. You will see the overhead sprayers running along the ceiling.

"This liquid Termidon is sprayed over the entire length and breadth of the field before planting time, so that the soil becomes well soaked. The Termidon immediately turns the soil into a rich, dark strata, the best soil for potatoes, wheat, or corn. No other fertilizer need be used, the Termidon, applied after every growth, giving the soil all the vitality necessary."

"This liquid Termidon is sprayed over the entire field before planting, so the soil becomes thoroughly soaked. The Termidon immediately turns the soil into a rich, dark layer, ideal for potatoes, wheat, or corn. No other fertilizer is needed. Applied after every crop, the Termidon gives the soil all the vitality it needs."

They were now in the field, when suddenly Alice asked:

They were now in the field when Alice suddenly asked:

"What is the peculiar tingling in the soles of my feet, I feel as we walk along? You are using some electrical vibrations, I suppose."

"What is that strange tingling I feel in the soles of my feet as we walk? I suppose you're using some electrical vibrations."

"You guessed correctly," Ralph replied. "With all our artifice the speed of the plant growth had not been accelerated sufficiently. I therefore insulated the inside hothouse from the ground. The inside hothouse rests upon glass blocks, and is electrified by high frequency currents. The entire area is sprayed day and night with a high frequency current, in the use of which we found was the real secret of driving plant growth ahead at enormous speed. The theory of course is nothing new, having been known for centuries. What is new, however, is the way it is done. It makes all the difference in the world if the current density is too high or too low, if it is direct or alternating current, and many other details. I found that the quickest way to accelerate plant growth by electricity was to send the current from the growing plant toward the ceiling, and the current must be direct, pulsating, but not alternating."

"You guessed correctly," Ralph replied. "Despite all our efforts, we had not sped up plant growth enough. So I insulated the inner greenhouse from the ground. It rests on glass blocks and is electrified by high-frequency currents. The entire area is sprayed day and night with a high-frequency current. We found that using this current was the real secret to making plants grow enormously fast. The theory, of course, is nothing new. It has been known for centuries. What is new, though, is the way it is done. It makes all the difference in the world whether the current density is too high or too low. It also matters whether the current is direct or alternating, along with many other details. I found that the fastest way to accelerate plant growth with electricity was to send the current from the growing plant toward the ceiling. The current must be direct and pulsating, but not alternating."

Ralph asked for a discharge pole from one of the attendants. It was a metal pole about seven and a half feet high. In the middle it had a long glass handle which Ralph grasped. He then set the pole vertically so that its top was about six inches from the glass ceiling. A roar of fine sparks leaped from the steel frame of the ceiling to the top of the pole.

Ralph asked one of the attendants for a discharge pole. The metal pole was about seven and a half feet tall. It had a long glass handle in the middle, which Ralph gripped. He held the pole upright, with its top about six inches from the glass ceiling. A roaring stream of fine sparks leaped from the ceiling’s steel frame to the top of the pole.

"See," said Ralph, "there is the current we use in accelerating the growth of our plants."

"See," said Ralph, "there is the current we use to speed up the growth of our plants."

Removing the pole, Ralph continued: "The electrical current density per square foot is not very high and the wheat does not get a very great amount of electricity during the twenty-four hours. The continuance of the force applied is what counts."

Removing the pole, Ralph continued: "The electrical current per square foot is not very high, and the wheat does not get much electricity over the course of a day. What counts is that the force is applied continuously."

After luncheon, during which they ate some of the bread made from wheat grown on the premises, they went to an adjoining farm, also a wheat farm, where harvesting was in full progress. Machinery, suspended from overhead tracks, cut the wheat rapidly with circular scythes. All the wheat being of the same height, the machine cut the wheat almost directly below the heads, dropped them on a conveyor, which carried the real harvest to a central distribution point. Another machine immediately followed the cutter, grasping the stalks that were still standing, unerringly pulled out the straw hulks, roots and all. Thus the roots were entirely removed and the soil loosened, obviating plowing. Within a few hours following cutting, the last stem was out. The field was then sprayed with the liquid Termidon from overhead. Within another three hours, sowing began, also from overhead pipes.

After lunch, they went to an adjoining wheat farm, where harvesting was in full swing. At lunch, they had eaten some bread made from wheat grown on the premises. Machines suspended from overhead tracks quickly cut the wheat with circular scythes. Since all the wheat was the same height, the machine cut it just below the heads. It dropped the heads onto a conveyor, which carried the actual harvest to a central distribution point. Another machine followed the cutter immediately. It grabbed the stalks still standing and unerringly pulled out the straw hulks, roots and all. This completely removed the roots and loosened the soil, making plowing unnecessary. Within a few hours after cutting, the last stem was out. The field was then sprayed from overhead with the liquid Termidon. Within another three hours, sowing began, also from overhead pipes.

Going to an adjoining plant, they saw a bare field with almost black soil, ready to be sowed. An attendant, at Ralph's request, pulled a switch and immediately Alice witnessed a seed rain from the overhead pipes.

At a neighboring plant, they saw a bare field with almost black soil, ready for sowing. At Ralph's request, an attendant pulled a switch. Alice immediately saw seeds rain down from the overhead pipes.

"The seed," Ralph explained, "is supplied to these tubes by means of compressed air. The tubes are perforated, and when air pressure is applied, the seed, flowing through the tubes is ejected evenly—just so many seeds to a given area. Closing the openings of the pipes automatically as the seeding proceeds, means only a given quantity of seed will fall upon any given square foot of soil. This makes for scientific planting, and we raise just the exact quantity of wheat we want."

"Compressed air supplies the seed to these tubes," Ralph explained. "The tubes have holes, and air pressure pushes the seed through them. The seed comes out evenly, with a set number of seeds for each area. As the planting goes on, the openings in the pipes close automatically. This ensures that only a set quantity of seed falls on each square foot of soil. This makes planting scientific, and we grow exactly the quantity of wheat we want."

Alice watched the seed rain spellbound. Like a wall of rain it slowly receded into the distance until finally it disappeared. "How long does it take to sow this field?" she asked.

Alice watched the seed rain in fascination. Like a wall of rain, it slowly receded into the distance until it disappeared. "How long does it take to sow this field?" she asked.

"From two to three hours, depending upon the size of the field. This particular field is about eight miles long and three miles wide. The process should be completed within about three and a half hours."

“From two to three hours, depending on the size of the field. This field is about eight miles long and three miles wide. The process should be finished in about three and a half hours.”

"And when will this crop be ready for the harvest?" Alice wanted to know.

"And when will this crop be ready to harvest?" Alice asked.

"In about seventy days from now the wheat will be ready to cut."

"In about seventy days, the wheat will be ready to harvest."

Alice walked along thoughtfully and then inquired whether the great cost of such an undertaking would not make the growing of the foodstuffs prohibitive.

Alice walked along thoughtfully. Then she asked whether the high cost of such a project would make growing food too expensive.

"Quite the contrary," Ralph replied. "We are now growing wheat, corn, potatoes, and many other foodstuffs, for a much lower price than our ancestors did five or six hundred years ago. You see, it is the installation of the hothouses and machinery that is costly, but these glass and steel buildings will last for centuries with proper care. The frames are made of non-rusting steel which needs no painting. The glass lasts for hundreds of years. The labor we use in planting and harvesting is a mere fraction of what was used in olden times. Thus, for sowing and harvesting this plant, eight by three miles, we require only twenty people. This is a very much smaller number than was used on a small old-fashioned farm.

"Quite the opposite," Ralph replied. "We now grow wheat, corn, potatoes, and many other foods for much less than our ancestors did five or six hundred years ago. The hothouses and machinery are expensive to install. But with proper care, these glass and steel buildings will last for centuries. The frames are made of rustproof steel and need no painting. The glass lasts for hundreds of years. Planting and harvesting take only a fraction of the labor they once did. For example, we need only twenty people to plant and harvest crops at this facility, which measures eight by three miles. That is far fewer people than were needed on a small, old-fashioned farm.

"We waste nothing. We have no poor crops, and we get three or four times as much as our ancestors did."

"We waste nothing. We have no poor crops, and we get three or four times as much as our ancestors did."

They stepped up to a glass case containing samples of wheat grown for hundreds of years, showing that a head of wheat grown in the year 1900 was about three inches long, while the present year's crop showed a length of more than six inches, or twice as much flour content per stalk. Ralph also pointed out to Alice that the modern wheat stalk was much bigger in circumference than the ancient ones, which, he explained, was attributable to the greater weight of the modern wheat. The old stalks could not possibly have supported such a great weight of grain, so it was necessary to cultivate bigger stalks.

They walked up to a glass case containing samples of wheat grown over hundreds of years. A head of wheat grown in 1900 was about three inches long. A head from the current year's crop was more than six inches long, yielding twice as much flour per stalk. Ralph also pointed out to Alice that modern wheat stalks were much thicker than the old ones. He explained that this was because modern wheat was heavier. The old stalks could not have supported so much grain, so larger stalks had to be cultivated.

Ralph went on: "As I said before, we waste nothing here. The harvested hulks go to a paper mill, a few miles away, and are converted into a first class paper. A few decades ago an entirely new paper process was invented. Where straw was once used for making so-called strawboard or cardboard, the finest commercial papers are now being made from the straw grown right here. We no longer annihilate our forests, to make paper pulp. Since the invention of the straw paper process, chopping trees for paper purposes has been forbidden and all the paper in this country is now made exclusively of straw chemically treated."

Ralph went on: "As I said before, we waste nothing here. The harvested stalks go to a paper mill a few miles away, where they are made into high-quality paper. A few decades ago, an entirely new papermaking process was invented. Straw was once used to make what was called strawboard or cardboard. Now the finest commercial papers are made from straw grown right here. We no longer destroy our forests to make paper pulp. Since the straw paper process was invented, cutting down trees for paper has been forbidden. All the paper in this country is now made exclusively from chemically treated straw."

A potato farm was seen the same afternoon. The processes in this and other vegetable growing plants being under somewhat different conditions than the wheat farm.

A potato farm was seen that same afternoon. The processes there and at other vegetable farms took place under somewhat different conditions than at the wheat farm.

It was dark when Alice and Ralph returned to wheat farm No. D1569, and found that the manager of the plant had prepared an elaborate supper for the two, informing Alice that everything set before her had been grown the same day. The whole wheat bread had been harvested that morning, the grains had been artificially aged by heat, flour had been made, and the bread had just been baked. He said, somewhat proudly, that this was probably a record.

It was dark when Alice and Ralph returned to wheat farm No. D1569. The farm manager had prepared an elaborate supper for them. He told Alice that everything on the table had been grown that same day. The wheat for the whole wheat bread had been harvested that morning. The grains had been artificially aged with heat, then made into flour. The bread had just been baked. He said, somewhat proudly, that this was probably a record.

The entire meal consisted of vegetables, all grown in plants in the vicinity. There were fresh peas, fresh asparagus, new potatoes, fresh lettuce, juicy apples, and many delicacies.

The entire meal consisted of vegetables, all grown in nearby facilities. There were fresh peas, asparagus, new potatoes, lettuce, juicy apples, and many delicacies.

For dessert the manager brought in, on a great silver tray, a number of new crossfoods, which as yet had not been seen in the open market. There was, the appear, a cross between an apple and a pear, which had all the good qualities of the apple and all the good qualities of the pear. There was also a delightful combination of plum and cherry, a cantaloupe with a faint taste of orange, and cherries as big as a good-sized plum.

For dessert, the manager brought in a large silver tray with several new crossfoods. They were not yet available on the open market. There was the appear, a cross between an apple and a pear. It had all the good qualities of both fruits. There was also a delightful combination of plum and cherry, a cantaloupe with a faint orange taste, and cherries as big as a good-sized plum.

Tea was served from tea leaves grown in one of the farms and harvested the same day. The manager also showed Alice cigarettes and set before Ralph a box of cigars, made from tobacco planted and harvested that day. The leaves had been aged rapidly by dry heat in a partial vacuum.

Tea was served from leaves grown on one of the farms and harvested that same day. The manager also showed Alice cigarettes and placed a box of cigars before Ralph. The cigars were made from tobacco planted and harvested that day. The leaves had been aged quickly using dry heat in a partial vacuum.

Both thanked the manager for the novel treat. After dining they walked into the wheat growing farm. It was now dark outside, but in the hothouse, the wheat for miles and miles seemed to be aglow in a light purple haze. A faint half-crackling, half-swishing sound was heard. The points of the wheat seemed to be almost luminous.

Both thanked the manager for the unusual treat. After dinner, they walked into the wheat farm. It was dark outside, but inside the greenhouse, the wheat seemed to glow in a light purple haze for miles and miles. They heard a faint sound, half crackling and half swishing. The tips of the wheat seemed almost luminous.

"This is the night appearance of the electricity you felt this afternoon," said Ralph. "During the daytime you do not see the faint discharge, but in darkness it becomes luminous. One pole of the high frequency generator is connected with the soil and the other with the steel framework of the hothouse. Without this electric current we would not be able to grow more than two, or at the utmost, three crops a year.

"This is what the electricity you felt this afternoon looks like at night," said Ralph. "During the day, you can't see the faint discharge, but it glows in the dark. One pole of the high-frequency generator is connected to the soil. The other is connected to the steel frame of the greenhouse. Without this electric current, we could grow no more than two crops a year, or three at most.

"It is also necessary to vary the strength of the current during the day. With full sunshine and maximum heat we do not need as much current as we use during the night. Several hundred years ago when using somewhat similar methods that had not as yet been perfected, it was necessary to use artificial light during the night, as plants need light for growth. We found, however, that the electric current with the soft light which you see glowing now, is sufficient for the purpose and the plant does not require any other light."

“We also need to vary the strength of the current throughout the day. In full sunshine and maximum heat, we need less current than at night. Several hundred years ago, similar methods had not yet been perfected. Artificial light was needed at night because plants need light to grow. However, we found that the electric current and the soft light you see glowing now are enough. The plants need no other light.”

Alice stood for many minutes silently watching the beautiful sight of the glowing purple field, listening to the faint crackling discharge of the electric current as it leaped from the points of the wheat into the air. They finally left and flew back to New York.

Alice stood silently for many minutes, watching the beautiful, glowing purple field. She listened to the faint crackle of the electric current as it leaped from the wheat tips into the air. Finally, they left and flew back to New York.

The next day, Ralph took Alice to one of the city's Synthetic Food Laboratories. While flying toward it, Ralph explained that while the farms which they had looked over yesterday were for the purpose of raising real foodstuffs, there were many commodities that could not be so raised, such as sugar, milk, and many others, which were now made synthetically. As chemists had known for many hundreds of years, sugar was nothing but a simple carbohydrate, whereas milk was composed of an emulsified mixture of casein, lactic acid, butter, water and minor constituents.

The next day, Ralph took Alice to one of the city's Synthetic Food Laboratories. As they flew there, Ralph explained that the farms they had visited yesterday raised real food. But many products, such as sugar, milk, and many others, could not be raised on farms. These were now made synthetically. As chemists had known for hundreds of years, sugar was simply a carbohydrate. Milk, on the other hand, was an emulsified mixture of casein, lactic acid, butter, water, and minor ingredients.

As the population increased, it was neither possible, nor profitable to obtain these foods by natural means, and it was found necessary to resort to the chemist.

As the population grew, obtaining these foods by natural means became impossible and unprofitable. So it became necessary to turn to chemists.

They alighted at one of these chemical laboratories which manufactured sugar, milk, cooking fats, butter and cheese.

They landed at one of these chemical laboratories, which made sugar, milk, cooking fats, butter, and cheese.

There was really not much to see, save large boiler-like chemical retorts, large white enameled vats, and a lot of pumps and electric motors. The manager explained that sugar was made out of sawdust and acids. The sawdust, he explained, was digested in the huge white enameled steel vats by means of certain acids. After the digesting process was completed other chemicals were added, the ensuing syrup then being run through retorts and finally emerging as a stream of white liquid sugar.

There wasn't much to see, apart from large chemical retorts shaped like boilers, large white enameled vats, and many pumps and electric motors. The manager explained that sugar was made from sawdust and acids. He said that certain acids were used to digest the sawdust in the huge white enameled steel vats. After digestion, other chemicals were added. The resulting syrup was then passed through retorts and finally came out as a stream of white liquid sugar.

The manager handed Alice a piece of clear, transparent sugar, as well as several specimens of crystallized sugar, which she ate delightedly, exclaiming laughingly that "it was the best sawdust she had ever eaten."

The manager gave Alice a piece of clear sugar and several samples of crystallized sugar. She ate them with delight, laughing as she exclaimed that "it was the best sawdust she had ever eaten."

They next visited the synthetic milk section, where hundreds of thousands of gallons of milk were produced every day. This being a recent discovery the manager explained it in detail.

They next visited the synthetic milk section, where hundreds of thousands of gallons of milk were produced every day. Because synthetic milk was a recent discovery, the manager explained it in detail.

"Milk," he said, "has been known since the dawn of humanity, but only when man became somewhat civilized did he learn how to obtain milk from animals, such as the goat and the cow. It took thousands of years to domesticate these animals, and it is not known at what period man first began to milk these domestic animals for his own supply of milk.

“Milk,” he said, “has been known since the dawn of humanity. But only after humans became somewhat civilized did they learn to get milk from animals such as goats and cows. It took thousands of years to domesticate these animals. No one knows when humans first began milking them for their own use.

"Men of an inquisitive nature must have asked themselves the question for thousands of years, 'Why grow grass, let the cow eat the grass, digest it, and finally turn it into milk? Why not eliminate the cow entirely?' The thought, while elementary, had no actual basis or foundation for centuries, because the chemical processes of the intermediate stages between the grass and the final milk were too complicated and were not at all well understood. Only during the last few years has the problem been solved satisfactorily.

"For thousands of years, curious people must have asked themselves, 'Why grow grass and let a cow eat and digest it to make milk? Why not eliminate the cow entirely?' Although the idea was simple, it had no practical basis for centuries. The chemical processes between grass and milk were too complicated and poorly understood. Only in the last few years has the problem been solved satisfactorily.

"Now we grow the fresh grass, which we put into these large retorts, where the grass is digested just the same as if it were in the stomach of the cow. By the addition of salts and chemicals we imitate this digestive process, and by eliminating solids and the liquids, we finally get a milk that is not only better than the original cow or goat milk, but has many qualities not possessed by cow's milk.

"Now we grow fresh grass and put it into these large retorts. There, the grass is digested just as if it were in a cow's stomach. We add salts and chemicals to imitate this digestive process. Then, by removing the solids and liquids, we get milk that is better than cow's or goat's milk. It also has many qualities that cow's milk does not.

"Try this glass of artificial milk," he said to Alice, handing her a glass of rather unappetizing-looking liquid of a slightly pale green color, not too clean looking and somewhat thick. Alice tasted it, however, and found that it tasted exactly like a good rich cow's milk. The manager asked Alice to close her eyes and take a good drink. She did so, and exclaimed in surprise that it tasted exactly like rich, creamy milk.

"Try this glass of artificial milk," he said to Alice, handing her a glass. The liquid looked rather unappetizing. It was pale green, somewhat thick, and not very clean-looking. Alice tasted it anyway and found that it tasted exactly like good, rich cow's milk. The manager asked Alice to close her eyes and take a good drink. She did, then exclaimed in surprise that it tasted exactly like rich, creamy milk.

The manager then explained that synthetic milk was free from the bacteria which give milk its white color. Moreover, the fat content was much higher than cow's milk, and, there being a greater percentage of sugar present, the milk tasted sweeter. Certain added salts gave it a distinguishing taste.

The manager then explained that synthetic milk contained none of the bacteria that give milk its white color. It also had much more fat than cow's milk. Its higher sugar content made it taste sweeter. Certain added salts gave it a distinctive taste.

From this milk, he further explained, any sort of fat could be extracted, and the usual array of milk products, such as butter, all sorts of cheeses, etc., could be made much better than from cow's milk, which never ran uniform.

He explained that any kind of fat could be extracted from this milk. All the usual milk products, such as butter and all kinds of cheese, could also be made from it. They were much better than those made from cow's milk, which was never consistent.

After inspecting the laboratory, Alice and Ralph sampled a number of products, all of which tasted excellent—better, if anything, than the natural products. The manager added "You will find our synthetic products are far easier to digest, and are more wholesome than the natural product. The reason is that we have eliminated all of the disease-carrying microbes and bacteria, retaining only the beneficial ones, which we can control very easily in our plants, more than the cow or goat can do."

After inspecting the laboratory, Alice and Ralph sampled several products. All of them tasted excellent, and if anything, better than natural products. The manager added, "You'll find that our synthetic products are much easier to digest and healthier than natural products. That's because we've removed all disease-carrying microbes and bacteria, keeping only the beneficial ones. We can control these in our plants much more easily than a cow or goat can."