The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-06-21

ash.
took potatoes from North Carolina to
his estate in Ireland about the year
1886.
Many amusing stories are written
regarding the attempts to use the
plant as food, and while these stories
may mot be entirely authentic they
are interesting. The seed potatoes
were distributed among Sir RaIiegh's
tenants without instruction as TO what
rart Of this new world food was 70
be eaten. When the potatoes came
10 the high green tender looking tops
wore taken to be some kind OF salad
plant, but they were not found relish
able In q raw state. .As the tops grew
larger II was supposed they were 10
be used as green's and SO we're stewed,
One can readily imagine the house
keepers disgust at the disagreeatle
dish, when the balls appeared on the
tops Of the plant the people were sure
they had found the proper part Of the
plant to eat. However. when many Of
them we're made III by eating stewed
potato balls. they abandoned all at
tempts 80 cultivate the strange new
food. After a time the tnbers we're
discovered, but as there was popu
lar belief that the plant was poison
ous many years elapsed before they
were cultivated as an article OF food.
Even then the potato came into favor
slowly and nearly two centuries
passed BY before this much despised
product Of tie western world was
served as part Of the daily diet Of the
common people
BosanicalIy the white potato be-
longs TO the solanum or poison Night
Shade family. and is related to the to.
mato and egg plant. as they belong to
the sanio family.
The potato gives slight indication
that there is bad blood in the fam.
ny, In the fact that there Is minute
quantity OF poison acid in its juices,
chiefly in the skin The poison called
solanin Is. however. readily dlssirated
by heat.
The potato contains large amount
of starch that has q commercial value
aside from its food value. This potato
starch is used in the manufacture Of
glucose, used In syrups and confec
tionery. in the manufacture Of alcohol
and in the preparation OF British gum
found on the backs Of labels.
In certain parts OF Bolivia. the
small Wild potato Is gathered BY the
natives, allowed 70 freeze and ther
dried When bone dry these potatoes
are pounded lato a meal which Il
moistened to a dough and then baket
IN thin cakes on hot stones.
In Russia and other European coun
tries potatoes arc dried and grounI
into -four that Is mixed with rye
barley, millet. or peas, in the makini
OF bread.
Thc food value Of the potato lie
chiefly in the starch i contains. I'M
following table gives the percentag'
composition of the white potato:
water. per cenf..,............... ..... Tss.
Protein. or muscle building fool, per
cent .......ssss.t s.*..s. ~ s.-st =
Starch. Or energy food per cent, le.
Fnt. energy fc7d, per cent ...s........ 90.
Mineral matter, builds bone, per cent. l.
The accompanying cut taken fror
q farmers bulletin. issued at Wasl
lngton. shows more clearly than III
tigufea do, the relative amounts Of II
different substances found in tn
average white potato.
II win be clearly seen that the pl
tato can rot be called compIet
food, as tfere is but little material
build and repaif muscular tissue.
II potatoes alone were eaten th
average adult would require about ]
pounds daily to secure the needle
amount Of muscle building food
The potato is almost eA1irely wan
ing in fat. In ord.r % MAKE the D
tafu ! desirable articlsr dgst II mul
be eaten with such foods as meat. ils|