The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-06-10
SWEET POTATOES MAKE STARCH
Clemson College Bulletin That is In.
tcrcsting and Suggestive.

tcTCstiuS dhu SuSScStlNc.
Clemson College, June S.-Bulletin
No. 1876 of the South Carolina expe-
riment station on THE manufacture
Of starch from sweet potatoes" has
been issued. The bulletin is by Mr..
c. c. Mcdonnell, who conducted the
experiments here before accepting a
position with the United States de-
partment Of agriculture in Washing
ton.
The bulletin discusses the history
OF the sweet potato, the climate and
soil necessary. the planting. cultiva-
tion, the harvesting, the yield, the
cost of production and the compost
tion Of the potato, and then enters
into a detailed exposition Of the pro-
cess Of manufacture Of starch from
the potato.
The chief sources of commercial
starch are corn, wheat, rice and Irish
potatoes. Corn is used almost ex-
clusively in the United States, though
Irish potatoes and wheat are used to
small extent. In England nearly
all starch Is made from rice and
wheat. The making Of starch from
Irish potatoes is carried on particu-
larly In Germany. The starch Of corn
Is about IS per cent. wheat IS per
cent, rice Is per cent. Irish potatoes
Is per cent.
The sweet potato contains a larger
percentage OF starch than the Irish
potato. yields heavier crop, and
can be grown more cheaply; and in
addition to these advantages, it has
a vine which makes good food for
stock, some varieties being very pal
atable.
The development Of cotton manu-
featuring in the South has created a
demand, which is continually increas-
ing. for starch used in "sizing" yarn
and filling" cloth. Experiments
which have been carried out in many
mills of this State show that for cot
ton goods the starch produced from
sweet potatoes is better than corn
starch and fully equal to the best
grades Of Irish potato starch.
The amount Of starch produced
from a good crop Of sweet potatoes
per acre Is from one and half to
four times that from Irish potatoes.
The annual production Of sweet po-
tatoes In the South Atlantic and
Gulf States Is about 10000. 900 BUSH
els which might easily be increased
tenfold.
The varieties most in demand for
table use are not necessarily the
ones best suited for the manufacture
Of starch. for the varieties containing
the largest percentage Of starch are
likely to be too dry and insipid for
table use.
The data accumulated is yet In
sufiicient to make any positive state
ment as to whether the making Of
I"s"ASu AOHt tuC SWccI pOtdtOe Will
prove paying investment; for at
the present price Of sweet potatoes
their manufacture into starch alone
might not be profitable. But grown
on a large scale, number of ex-
penses would be eliminated. At pres
ent only fraction Of the crop is dis
posed of, all unmarketable potatoes
being a dead loss. and there being
other losses through rotting. inability
to market the crop. etc.
Grown for starch factories. all po-
tatoes could be sold, no expense of
barrelling or packing would be in
Cured; modern machinery could be
used in planting. cultivating and har-
venting. heavier yielding varieties
could be grown. the by-products-
pulp. etc.-could be utilized.