The Red Cloud chief., 1912-02-22

Parts.
Starch, etc. c............ ................. 1913
heterogeneous matters ................... 81
sugar ........... .......... .......'''''''' o's
Eat .................. ..........'' w..
Salines ..................... ............. W
although OF course variations in these propor.
tlons, depending upon SOIL climate and meth.
ods of cultivation, are to be expected II Is
evident, therefore. that the potato Is not per-
feet food and that It lacks sufficient nitro.
genous matter while having superabun-
dance of starch and sugar. That does not de-
stroy its value nor its usefulness. by any
means. nor It's popularity. for next to In.
dian corn and rice. the potato Is the most WIDE
ly used vegetable In tho world.
Today no hopeful settler. after trccking into
virgin wilderness. thinks his little garden
complete without the pretty patch OF potatoes;
no domestic or public meal is served without
it's tuberous establishment, and after master
ing the art Of boiling eggs, the next step Of
the young housewife Is to learn how to prepare
potatoes.
The grand total OF potato production for one
year amounts to about 5,5O0.0O0.000 bushels.
and this gigantic crop comes from every con.
tinent in the world. Over one.fourth OF the
output Is grown in Germany: not quite one.
eighth from Russia; usually a little less even
than that. from Austra.Hungary; about one
ninth from France; about one-sixteenth from
Poland and slightly less quantity from icon.
tiguous) United States.
In the United States. almost one-third OF the
years crop Is grown in the North Atlantic
states, but the group OF North Central states
east OF the Mississippi river runs close sec.
ond: of the other subdivisions, the Central
states west Of the Mississippi are next in i'm.
portance. and the far Western states are fourth.
This illustrates one fact about the potato;
1t is very susceptible to climate and cultivation.
Left to nature. It Is only moderately pro.
life plant. and cannot thrive in a country too
hot or too cold but has its habitat essentially
in the temperate zone: on the other hand. 1t
responds readily to good care, SO that the
more 1t Is nursed the better does It grow.
The few rules to follow In successful potato
growing can be learned by any farmer. First
the soil must be suitable. but this Is not hard
to find. 1t must be light, as to offer no
great resistance to the enlargement OF the tn.
bers: we'll supplied with organic matter, yet nc
more than moist. and containing abundance Of
natural fertilizing ingredients. Well drained
sandy loan is excellent; clay should be avoid
ed. Crop rotation Is advisable. as the potato
bears we'll after certain preceding crops. but
may wither II succeeding itself too regularly.
Liberal manure is necessary. but of the right
kind. The rows should be laid OF as close to-
gether as practicable without interfering with
horse cultivation. and generally speaking the
seed pieces should be dropped about 12 inches
apart In burrows made In the level field and
not on the ridges yet deep enough-say four
inches-to afford ample cover to them. 1t must
be mentioned that in speaking OF potatoes the
word seed" means the tuber or portions cut
from It in which an "eye" has formed; the
botanical seed may be used but no benefit is
derived from that method: care must be
taken. however, that the sprouts from the eye
are not injured and It is best. therefore to use
eyes from which sprouts have not appeared
The uses Of the potato as food have long
ago been vindicated. Nothing can dislodge It,
Not even the latest discovered dashen a JAP
anese and Chinese claimant to tuberous popu
larity will take its place. even though 1t
may be proved to possess more protein than
the South American predecessor. Whole books
have been written on the culinary art of cook
Ing the potato. Boiled. baked. stewed or
fried, It has been garnishment to the more
aristocratic dishes OF every feast since II was
discovered. and has supplied many full meal
to the humble masses who do the worlds
work. Nothing but poem could tell its
praises, and sonnet Is the least tribute
through which our gratitude to Peru should be
expressed
As a source Of Industrial alcohol. especiaI,v
that substance which Ia commercially known as
denatured alcohol, potatoes are being regarded
as Of increasing value.
Next to food. however. the greatest value TO
mankind OF the American potato is a source
OF starch In this. too It vies with corn. Po
tato starch Is every year proving its merit
and whatever can provide starch, has a long
popularity ahead Of itself. Starch is one OF
the essentials OF civilization. Its uses are pro
team. the demand for 1t is unceasing, and for
both art and industry the supply must be con.
stant. With such varied field for its activ.
n.y. therefore. no one should doubt that few
blessings to humanity can surpass that which
came 10 the world through the famous potato