The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-01
FOOD VALUE OF THE POTATO.
10 l. Enhanced when the Vegetable
Is served With Nent.

The scientists connected with the De-
partment of Agriculture have been
making Investigations with the
purpose Of asccTtaiUinE facts re-
gardinE the food value OF the
potato. These Investigations have had
the result Of confirming the belief that
the general practice Of serving potatoes
with meat and other foods which contain
generous proportions of protein is justi-
fed on scientific grounds. as one food sup
plies the chemical elements lacking in the
other Potatoes and other foods which
contain carbohydrates are often object
ed to on the grounds that they are
starchy foods and 60 not supply q suffl-
Client degree Of heterogeneous matter.
II is well 90 remember. however. that a
considerable amount of protein is con-
tanned in the potato. and also that carb1-
hydrates are an Indispensable part of a
well-regulated diet The experiments re-
ferred 10 show that potatoes when prop
erly cooked supply such material in an
easily dissestibIe form.
To secure the greatest food value from
potatoes they should not he peeled be-
fore cooking, and should be placed direct
" in the hot water and boiled rapidly
When they are placed I'm cold water.
which IS gradually heated 20 the boiling
point, a great loss of material is sus-
tanned.
The recently issued Yearbook Of the
Department OF Agriculture shows that
tho potato crop of the United States I'm
1900 was 2l0925s37 bushels. worth on the
farm $gJ.Sl1I67- This WAS the largest
value reached since 1891 although the
crop was smaller by nearly 100000 bush
els than I'm 1893. The decrease in yield was
more than made up by an advance from
- cents 90 49, cents Ia the farm price
The acreage in 1900 was larger by -9.7B
acres than in 1899, but the average yield
fen OF from $50 bushels per acre 10 sos
bushels.
Thc larger part of the potato crop Of
this country is produced by the States Of
New York. Iowa. Pennsylvania. hIichi-
gan. Illinois. Ohio. Wisconsin. Nebraska.
Minnesota, Missouri. Kansas, and Maine.
The Nvw York acreage is usually nearly
double that Of any other State and the
value of the crop is more than Oue-eighth
OF the total The area planted annually
tn the other States named runs between
10000 and POO coo acres The Increased
acreage in 1900 was due mainly 20 AN in
crease q lHu0 acres in New York and
1000 acres in Pennsylvania The yield de-
Cllued in New York from 50 bushels an
acre 20 81. and in PENNSYLVANIA from s.
bushels To IS, th- farm price at the same
time advancing from 30 90 - cents in New
York and from 45 TO 50 cents in PenusyI-
.sanl.t- Notable changes were made also
In Minnesota. where the acreage de-
creased 1000 acres, the Weld per acre from
% 20 81 bushels, and the price advanced
from - Co 80 cents. in Wisconsin. where
the acreage fen of nearly 5000 acres and
the price advanced from IS 10 . cents
Iowa where the decrease in acreage was
800 acres, In yield from 100 bushels TO ,
bushels per acre. and the advance ~ price
from . % - cents. IN Missouri where
the acreage was 800 acres greater. the
Yield increased from 50 10 - bushels ger
acre. but the price fen from 81 TO 30 cents
in Illinois. where the acreage inc -eas-d
b. 300 acres. the yield fell from % bush
els 10 - per acre. and the price W s. Un-
changed in Michigan, where the acreage
drCreds-d by 10" acres the yield df-
yaucsd from c. 60 g. bushels per acre. and
the price fell from @ TO - cents. and in
Nebraska. where the acreage increased
sou acres, the yield fen from "a 20 S.
bushels per acre. and The price advanced
from - 60 q cents a bushel.