St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-14
Prof. Meyer Has a Tuberifep-
Gus Plant That Will Grow
in Minnesota
And That Will Resemble ard
Become as Popular as the
Potato.
A West Side Mother Steals
Meat to Feed Her Starv-
ing Family,
Interest in a Cinch Game Cost
a Missouri Sheriff His
Prisoner.

Albert Meyer, the chemist, of
| Saltwater, was in st. Paul yester-
| day, and, in the course of q converse
ton on the potato crop and the good
! price to farmers, gave an interesting
| talk of new tuberiferous plant that he
| thought would be introduced in Mime
| sofa and become as much of q staple as
| the potato.
"Will it flourish in this soil and eli
mate?" was asked.
"Undoubtedly. 1 will tell you about
| it. A few years ago scientist discov-
cred in Japan a plant resembling the
potato, and sent samplas OF it to Berlin
and Paris to be eHperimented on. These
experiments have been favorable sue
ceSSes, ana the new potato has been ex-
tensively introduced in Berlin and Paris.
especially in hotels and restaurants. A
number of farmers in our vicinity, with
whom | cOnversed on the subject, are
willing to experiment OH the plant next
season. In soliciting Prof. Dr. L.. Witt
mark, secretary general of the Royal
Pfussian Society of Berlin, received
some very valuable notices. The last
named society has taken pains 10 make
experiment with the plant. Ihescientlfc
name OF this plant Is oLachys tnberliera,'
DuI 40 ~ tilclI iOI III liiSy tiiSiiI NC CtsiiCu
pine cones. 'StachyS affiniS' is another
Lame, and lately they have given it the
name 'StaehyS -Sieboldii.' The cliltIva-
ton is the same as the old potato, and
there have been found over 1OC knobs
in one hill; some say as many as 800,
but this is probably exaggerated. They
are, OF course. not as large as our COM
mon potato. According to the Garden
Flora, the organ of the first-nalned
society, the analysis of the fruit is:
Wafer. -. 80. ......7S.33
Protein. ........ =. -. .......... Loo.
Am1de.....- 49,. $3.50. .......-.. -. 10.
CarDonhydrate OPrincipi Galaclan) ..16 ..
CeilulOse.. -...-..-.-..- -..'.. - 20
Ashes. -. -. ............. ......... LOB
There is neither starch or sugar, but
galactan, a substance between both.
StachyS affiniS. OF tubPrifera is an
misunderstanding vegetable when boiled
i'll salt water and served with butter and
parsley sauce. Some people like them
seethed in oil, but that is merely a mat
ter Of taste. Prepared like 'pommeS de
terre friteS' (potatoes cut i'll small slices
and fried in butter), they are claimed tn
be delicious dish. The taste is at first
like that of a sweet potato, but one will
soon feel very fine piquant taste.
They do not need to be peeled, but are
only washed clean in water. which is
another blessing TO the housekeeper.
They are kept in the ground as late as
possible, and preserved packed in sand
in the cellar during the winter months.
Exposed to the air they will shrink
and lose their. nice. white nother-Of-
pearl-like color. The plant is winter
hardy. and thriveS in any soil. Frost
does not hurt them, and to have them
aIwas fresh they aresleft i'll the ground
and dug as wanted. In our climate it
is best to. keep. them in a ditch or in
sand iii the cellar, w. Perring, inspector
of the royal botanical garden. in Berlin.
informs me that the. production is very
large, and that there are many enthuSi-
astS in favor Of the new plant in that
city. which pr0phesjes the plant great
future. The expectations uf high prices
ana large yields Will induce good
many farmers to make trial with the
new tubtiiferous plant. have already
quite mum Der of orders for seed. and
will take pleasure in giving Information
to any who will write me, care ST. Crolx
Post, Saltwater"