The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-03-06

Are Potatoes Poisonous?

xAA0 OO6tO06 OloO1Ou6
There is no vegetable which enters so
generally into the daily consumption of
the people of this country as the social
ed Irish potato. No dinner is complete
without potatoes, either boiled, mashed
or without MASKING. Saratoga potatoes
are luxury for breakfast, and nicely
cleaned and baked potato is feast for
an epicure. | confess like potatoes in
some shape at every full meal. Before
going further hear some one asking:
"What are Saratoga potatoes"' Pota-
toes nicely pared, cut in slices and fried
in fat, just as doughnuts or crullers are
fried. And, allow me to say, you need
not be afraid of the fat, they will soak
but small per centage, not more than
you would wish if you used butter. Par
don, did not set out to write an essay
on the culinary art, but to write about
Z vegetable universally esteemed, and,
perhaps to say something of the cultiva-
ton necessary to bring il TO perfection.
The potato belongs to the family of
poisonous plants, solanecca or night
shade, and this fact has provoked this
article for your consideration. a recent
writer claims that from the potato skins
deadly poison may be prepared, and
that it is a question of health to take
large meals of potatoes principally: and
furthermore, potatoes ought to be par
ed before cooking, and that the skins OF
without having tried TO produce pois-
on from potato skins, and therefore not
knowing, l viii grant for the argument.
that the poison exists: but contend in
such intinitcssimal small quantities that
no harm can come of eating two or
three baked potatoes with the skins on
if preferred. Prussic acid is contained
in peachpits, yet we add 4 few to every
can and partake of them without harm.
receive harm from kernel or two land
doctors use this same prussic acid. much
| diluted, of course. with benefit to their
patients. AS 10 pairing potatoes before
cooking, claim it is great waste and
positive damage to the palatibilty of
the tuber il wastes the very best part.
Let me prove this: fake two or three
medum-sized potatoes, wipe clean, di-
vide into equal halves. rub the two see
tons together, then look at them and
YOU will discover next to the skin a ring
| more or less broad, according to quality
Of the luber. In the best quality this
ring will be nearly half an inch broad,
and in the poorest only the width of a
narrow straw. Nearest the heart or CEN
ter the potato will be watery. If YOU
have different sorts take one or more of
Il kind and il will not take long TO deter
mine which is the best. And thus in par
ing all the better portion is wasted. or
given 10 the pigs or other stock. Most
of the starch or sugar stuff contained in
a tuber is within The circle shown. Were
potatoes so unwholesome as the writer
claims how is he to account for the SUI
perior physical condition of the poorer
Irish and Germans whose daily diet is |
potatoes, partaken of with little salt |
meat and no bread. Some years ago
when potatoes rotted SO badly in the |
"Old Country" as well as on this side |
of the Atlantic. did not famine stare in
the face of the poor. All kinds of eXpe- |
riments were tried to stay the disease. |
! remember a little article contributed |
10 the Illinois Agricultural Report show
ing how the people of Kansas Gust then
in troublc) could plant their potatoes
and also eat them, viz: pare them thick.
or cut ont the eyes and plant them. and
save the rest of the tuber for the table.
The best soil in which TO grow potatoes
is rich sandy loan, such as is found in
the northern part of Illinois. Michigan.
Iowa. Minnesota. and other Western
States. Wherever practicable ! would
give level culture. and all cultivation
and hocing should be done before the
vines are in full bloom. New land. even
TO the Southern border of our State.
viii produce palatable tubers. As good
"PcachbIows as are found on any mans
table are found on mine this winter and
grown in this neighborhood too. Some
of the newer sorts. such as the Snow
flake, "Brownelrs Beauty" and others
are giving great satisfaction in the
States just named. bu, believe do not
do well in Columbia. The immediate
application of barnyard manure is not
advocated a clover sod will produce a
good crop: wood ashes are valuable
fertilizer, and q coating of lime where il
does not naturally exist in the soil is of
great benefit. Actual experiments bear
me out in the assertion that the change
of seed from North to South, and vice
versa. is advantageous and will pay eve
~ time. AT the present prices paid in
St. Louis good crop of potatoes is bet
ter than very good crop of wheat. |
was glad TO obtain my winter supply at
sixty cents per bushel. At the meeting
of the State Horticultural Society held !
a; jefferson City recently ProfS. NJ. Ira )
,ey read paper on the potato" after
which this article, originally written for )
The journal OF agriculture. was read BIZ
he author. and elected the following
from Prof. Tracey: 1T is true
hat the potato belongs TO a family of
,lants that are poisonous. The tomato
belongs to the same class. But the pro- \
'ess of cooking dispels the poison. To-
naiocs when green are quite poisonous"
Mr.. HusSmann said II agree with vba,