The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-04-11
THE JOURNAL.
The Value of Dried Potatoes.
TFrom the Scientific American.

raised. Il
Cotton had been known for generations,
but only to supply the famiIy's need,
until the genius of Whitney responded
to the worlds demand. So, alsJ, the
sweet potato can BE- grown in fabulous
quantity ; but its perishable nature con
fines it to home consumption. The
present discovery, however, will render
this also a staple article of commerce.
"A bushel, when pared with a knife,
which wastes much, weighs ffty-two
pounds but, when dried, only ten
pounds, having lost in bulk three fourths,
and in weight four ffths! Halt a pound,
when boiled three quarters of an hour in
an earthen vessel (tin discolors), fills a
large dish, in color and flavor precisely
like the root on your table at this season
of the year. Twenty cents a dish would
not be considered high, and Yet it gives
three dollars and seventy cents a bush
Ell to the planter for ten cents will pay
the cost of drying, and twenty cents
that of boxing and freight to market.
Now strike off one half for margin and
merchants profit, and did cotton. ever
pay anything like this-when you con-
slider that five hundred bushels to the
acre, is not uncommon .. ,....
You are aware, that the sweet potato
undergoes chemical change, a few
weeks after being dug. At first it is dry
and mealy, and is a universal favorite,
but then it becomes soft and soggy,
and is by many rejected. It is evident
that 20 such change can take place in
the specimen herewith inclosed,. hard as
flint stone. This delicious vegetable can
therefore now be placed on the table eve
~ day of the year, in its best condition.
There will be a great foreign demand,
for in Europe it is scarcely known; and
even III u " country, west and north,
it is seldom seen. '"
You will find, also, specimens Of Irish
potato. The first trial with this was
a complete failure they came forth al
most black, and [ gave it up in despair.
But further reflection suggested that,
when cooked, they are white. What is
the difference? Heat. Accordingly
they were submitted for a few minutes
to steam, in order that the outer surface
might be cooked, and form a muciIage
impervious to the atmosphere. The re-
suit was a complete triumph !; they came
forth bright, and almost se~mi-transpa-
rent. If you slice some potatoes, and
boil them, they cannot be distinguished
from the dried when similarly treated.
It is evident they will keep during
the longest voyage. How valuable for
sea stores, with only one fourth their
original bulk, and one fifth their weight.
How important in a sanitary point of
view, for there is no seurvy with pota-
toes twice a week. THI 1E3AE E~lE |
81 @ah.'.,5 francis Fl. SMITH.
Baltimore, Nd. .,-.@ s&-5.
The specimens Ct sweet potatoes in
closed are hard and almost transparent,
resembling raw hide as prepared for
loom pickers. The Irish potatoes are of
o chalky whiteness, and equally hard.
The invention appears to Be valuable.
During the war dessicated vegetables
were largely used in the army, with the
happiest results,
aEff - s~~~~-~~R--~~~~ ST.
Our NEW DIsTRlcT CoMMANDER-
Our readers will have anticipated the
taking command of this military district
by Major Gen. Buchanan, fomourhayine
stated at the time Gen. Hancock was
leaving why it was the former could not
then do 50.
Tbs President was hardly aware that
by some mistake Gen. Buchanan had
been assigned TO duty under his inferior,
than his superior grade by bevet,
and therefore when the President direct I
Zen. Ill: to turn over his command
during his absence to his next in COM
mand. This was not Gen. Buchanan.
if he had been assigned to duty ]
as q Major General it would have been. J
this error has been. rectifed, Gen.
b becomes senior officer, and Of course
ENse I
Gen. b. hasbeen so retired and modest !
while here that he has not become much Q
to our people since his arrival, $
about New Years Day last. He is a :
SECULAR army officer Of the old school, q
altogether q soldier and no politician, :.
ind we presume has as little respect i
or the in:rigues, hates and rivalries of d
'uch as are politicians, as it is general !,
y the characteristic ofmen entirely with q
arawn fromathe political world to have. g
" have no doubt he viii act fairly and
Justly, though he will urqnestionably q
to please ally. O. Picayune.
----
$50 says ths 6neer but not SO think /,
We, unless it iS certain that our white T
people do not intend to raise their own
pod and most of their own wear i their q
'wn State or in its immediate neeighbor.
lood. Hthey viii do this. the King If q
)ahomey might be their ruler, and they
would soon become independent Of him Y
Northern allies. For the sake Of
ornrion sense, do give up this idea that
Ihite Office holding is necessary to onr
Tealth. If the negro does not work, :,
him go; do not encourage him to re- :,
If he wants to leave but cultivate :,
he less land and pasture The. residue OF =
'eur plantation. unless you have the !"
God sense to invite white men Of your :.
wnS State and others who have no lands :
!, come and buy of you, and be, like your 4
mall planters, But the future is shroud- g
d il gloom if politics are always To- en-. j
.yoRr thoughts. Vote certainly, IL II
on can, against the constitution and for y
pod parish officers but one day will =
forahis. Give The resi-. 10 work.-N. t
J. 49, 80 f / assa sstM3. in
a Sebhath7schooI superintendent ask II
l his scholars iff any of them sonld
note q passage Of Sculpture which for
de Il mans wa wives. VIC