Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-11-21
A Substitute For Potatoes.

4
The recent high prices for potatoes.
which prevailed throughout the en-
tire country, and which proved an ex-
ceptional hardship to teh poor of the
large cities, to whom potatoes have al
ways been a staple article of diet, has
been the means of drawing attention
to other food products that for some
inexplainable reason have heretofore
been neglected. The Illinois state pure
food commission has declared that II
the poor would only put aside their
false ideas of the necessity of potatoes
and vegetables they could have varie-
ty and all the good effects of the same
with rice, corn and hominy. These, it
was asserted, are cheaper and more
nutritious than potatoes.
State Analyst E. N. Eaton asserts
that all that prevens such famines
from being hing of the past is preju-
dice. He says boiled rice and boiled
potatoes are similar In their ingre-
ldients, and present the following com.
parative analysis:
Potatoes have 751z per cent. OF
water and rice 721s per cent; potatoes
have 2.22 per cent. Of a1buminous mat.
ter and rice rs per cent; potatoes
have 20 per cent. of starch, and rice
24.10 per cent; potatoes have .s1 per
cent. of mineral matter, and rice three
tenths OF one per cent.
This, 1t is claimed, makes the two
similar in health-giving powers, but
but with rice at 10 cents a pound. as it
is now. it is over 25 per cent. cheaper.
The figures of corn and potatoes show
even moro marked advantage for
corn. as it is but So cents a busheI
sack.
Muscle and brain are built up bet
ter by corn and rice than by potatoes,
said DIR. Eaton. They contain more
phosphates and protein, and both are
necessary. They can be prepared
suitable to the palate in a thousand
ways, and there is no need to cry for
potatoes"
The Muiching of Strawberries.
Strawberries should always be COW
cred with some coarse material lust
before the severest weather comes on
in the fall Generally speaking. the
latter part of November is the time
to do it. Whether the blanket" is
applied before the ground has frozen
up for good or not, does not matter as
far as material benefit to the plants
IL concerned, But If applied before. IL
Is preferable to drop the mulch off at
the end of the rows and thence carry
it on to the bed with fork; whereas.
by waiting until after the ground Is
frozen, you can drive where you
choose, and deposit the material at
such intervals as will make it the most
convenient to spread.
The entire surface should be covered
to a depth that will hide the plants
completely Indeed. at the time OF
application the straw shoaiI be about
three inches deep all over the bed. for
rains and snow will casue II to pack
down to an inch or two less. To a
person not acquainted with the work
of mulching. it may seem that so mucI.
straw would injure the plants. It will
not. however. Rather. it will greatly
benefit them. and IL not applied too
early in autumn or left on too lale
in spring. might be ever so deep up
to certain limit, and still perform its
function. About May first, or as soon
as growth starts. the covering needs
to be removed; no further, however,
than into the paths between the rows.
Then. JUST before the berries begin TO
ripen, go through the fields and pull
all weeds. and arrange the straw care
fully about the plants so it will cover
every bit of the surface not occupied
by them.