The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-12-07
Sweet Potato Starch.

more, in this immediate community
are going to plant some two acres each.
You are doing the State a great
benefit by so thoroughly airing the
subject. Indeed, you have been
rather the pioneer in the State
in the way Of rejuvenatiug old
and introducing new farm crops and
other neglected industries.
The necessity is upon South Caro-
lima farmers as never was before, Of
mending their farming ways. They
are in front of veritable sea, there
are mountains on either side and a
host of creditors behind. They must
cross the sea and must settle honora-
bly, with their creditors.
How are they to do it? By curtail-
ing cotton acreage? Yes, but what
shall be planted on the part cut off?
Wheat is all well enough, buta money
crop is wanted Of size to which the
wheat crop will not reach.
Now, the writer is going to risk
your wrath in naming crop W ich be
has before brought to your notice, and
product to be made from it: sweet
potatoes and sweet potato starch. He
remembers you commented very favor
ably on the matter of his letter, and
some correspondence with promoters
resulted, which is still going on.
With your permission he will now
state again some facts in connection
with the crop. 1t has been discover
ed recently that the sweet potato is
rich in starch, enough SO to make it
suitable raw product for the CONNER
cial manufacture of starch. You no
doubt remember that our mothers
made starch in primitive way from
the sweet potato during the war.
The project is still in embryo com
paratively. There are yet one or two
points to be settled by factory promo
ters. Only one Immediately concerns
the farmer. The Others are for the
other party, that is the manufacturer,
and it is we'll to add that experiments
are now being conducted that are ex-
pected to settle conclusivcly by their
determinations these points
The one farmers must settle is, can
they raise sweet potatoes in such
quantity and at such price as will
supply factory? It is this question
the writer wants you to push home to
the farmers Of the State.
The price which is proposed now to
be paid by the factory is 20 cents per
bushel. Now can the farmers do it?
1t would be we'll for you to get some
practical farmer, one who works and
fertilizes we'll to make calculation
of the cost Of an acre of cotton and
one Of sweet potatoes.
Let us just now only take for exam
pie an acre of ground which will make
bale Of cotton. This bale Of cotton
let US put at s25, and just now that
will include val e Of lint and seed.
Now how many bushels of potatoes
can be made on an acre of similar
ground; 200 bushels-s40; 300 bush.
cls-$6O; 400 bushels-SSO?
Now on an acre of ground so fertil-
lied and cultivated as to make a bale
of cotton 400 bushels of Southern
Queen sweet potatoes can be raised.
OF course, all land will not make that
many, neither will all land make
bale of cotton or yellow wrapper to-
bacco, or 30 bushels Of wheat, but it
will do for calculating comparative
cost and proceeds. In this calcula-
tion one must take into consideration
the danger to any crop from the ele-
ments, except potatoes. Hail cant
hurt them, wind can t, storms Of rain
cannot, earthquake will only loosen
the soil so they can grow bigger.
Now, it has been determined that the
most prolific varieties are the best
adapted to the purpose, a wonderful
providence, indeed. 1t will take from
500 to 2,OG0 bushels per day to run
factory. a small factory to use 800
bushels per day will cost about S., 600;
to use 1000, about $4,000. To ran
four months, daily capacity 500 bush
els, will take 300 acres, making 200
bushels per acre; $50 acres making
400 bushels. A 6rst-class ginnery
will cost $1,000.
Yet many individual men buy and
operate such and count themselves
lucky to make it pay for itself in two
or three years.
Why could not some Of the large
farmers own and operate some OF these
small factories? If not strong enough