INDUSTRIAL USES FOR THE POTATO

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 45, 17 November 1920, Page 8

INDUSTRIAL USES FOR THE POTATO

The.September issno of "Chambers'!) Journal" contains an interesting articlo which explains how the problem of dealing with the glut of potatoes has been solved in Germany, where 51,00(1,000 tons are raised annually. Owing to tho low prices offered for potatoes, the agrarian interest!) wen> forced to attack the question from motives of sell'-preservatlon. Tho successful drying of lieet pulp after the sugar has been extracted, thereby enabling the material to lie kept indefinMoly for stock feeding purposes, suggested an examination of tho feasibility of applying similar methods to tlio potato. These investigations were carried out, and as a result two simple methods were evolved, perfected, and brought into operation. It was quickly fouud that drying did not adversely affect the composition of,tho potato, and that the dried tuber, besides being valuable stock food, was a first-class raw material for products such as starch, "farina," glucose, dextrino, nlcohol, etc. Before 'tho war fully 500 potato-drying factories wero es>iablislied. The outlook was improved by a new process evolved by mi English inventor, tho salient characteristic of which is its variability, whioh permits ono or othor product lx>ing exploited according to tho conditions of the market. This will tend to steady the price paid to the farmer for tho raw material, and encourage him to devote increased attention to the cultivation of tho potato, and to improve tho Yield by raising more prolific varieties by having more .liberal recourse to fertilising.