The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-10
STARCH FROM POTATOES.
Experiments With the Production of
This Article in Maine.


Harvey ". Wiley. Chief of the Division
of Chemistry of the Agricultural Depart
ment. has during the past year made ex-
tensive observations and experiments in
the manufacture, in Maine, of starch from
potatoes. The Department OF Agriculture
has Just issued a pamphlet containing Mr..
Wiley's observations. accompanied with de-
scriptions Of machinery and processes for
the manufacture of starch from potatoes
and cassava. There are also included in
this bulletin data relating to the industry
Of starch manufacture from potatoes in
other parts of the country.
Regarding the amount OF product and de-
scription Of soil, the bulletin says:
The total annual production of starch
from potatoes in the United States is about
1880 tons, of which 5000 tons are pro-
duced in the county of Aroostook. in Maine.
The soil of this county presents q gently
rolling surface. and is composed essentially
Of drift, deposited during the melting of
the ice after the Ice Age. resting on q
stratum of limestone which in many places
comes to or near the surface. The soil
partakes Of the general nature of drift,
containing a considerable proportion OF
sand and the usual amount of organic mat
ter. 1t IS. therefore, soil which is pc
culiaTly suited TO the growth of potatoes
a soil which does not pack after hard rains
nor during periods Of drought. It's open
and porous nature permits the free deveI-
opment of the tubers and the evolution of
Tootlets both lateral and perpendicular
The soil was originally covered with a
growth Of hard and soft woods, consisting
chiefly Of maple cedar. birch, white poplar.
spruce, hemlock, and pine. The forest
growth was dense, and in clearing large
Quantities of ashes were produced, which
fitted the virgin fields particularly for the
production OF large crops of potatoes. After
lew years of cultivation, the fields begin
20 lose a portion Of their natural fertility
and the potatoes are grown in these fields
at the present time with a liberal appliea-
ton OF farm manures and commercial fer
thizers containing large percentage of
potash"
Of the influence OF commercial fertfli-
zeFS on the quality Of the potato, Mr.. Wi
ley says:
1t is shown by the data contained in
the analyses Of potatoes from German
sources, that the use of commercial fer
tllizers influences the composition of the
potato. especially in respect of the guam
tlty OF starch 1t contains. The value of
potash IN producing additional quantities
OF carbohydrates in growing plants has
mental work It is evident, therefore
that the liberal use OF potash not only ia
vors the growth Of the potato in regard to
yield, but also tends 10 increase the con
tent OF starch which ii contains. The Ger
man experiments have indicated also that
A moderate use of nitrogen tends TO
slightly increase the content OF starch in
the potato. An excessive use Of nitroge-
nous Iertiiizers<is 10 be avoided. Exten-
49,
erection by some Of the agricultural ex-
pertinent stations of the United States
especially in Maine and Virginia In BUf-
letln No = OF the Virginia Agricultural
experiment Station the results OF the ex-
perinents with fertilizers On the compo-
sion CT the Irish potato are given. The
conclusions which were reached at the
Virginia station are as follows:
That potatoes grown without fertiIi-
zers contain the greatest amount of dry
matter The addition Of fertilizers tends
to diminish the dry matter. and also as
the quantity of fertilizer used is. increased
the amount OF dry matter is diminished.
Potatoes grown where sulphate OF pot
ash IS used contain more dry matter than
those where mUriare is used.
The ash is E0t affected to any very ap-
preoiable extent; fertilizers tend slightly
10 increase 1t.
Very little effect is produced on the
starch BY either the kind or amount Of
fertilizers used their tendency is TO in
crease rather than TO diminish it.
Potatoes grown with muriate Of potash
contain less dry matter but slightly more
starch than those grown with sulphate OF
potash.
Neither the kind nor amount of fer
tiiizers has any appreciable effect Oh the
percentage Of nitrogen, phosphoric acid,
ard potash contained in potatoes.
The percentage of chIorin is considers-
bly, increased when muriate of potash is
used and the more muriate used the high
er the per cent OF chIerin'