River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-02-22

Water .................... ............ foo
Total ................. .IUV'V
although of course variations in these proper
lions, depending upon SOIL climate and meth
DDS of cultivation, are to be expected 1t 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 it's value nor it's 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 the world
Today no hopeful settler after trecking into
a 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 5500000,000 bushels,
and this gigantic crop comes from every con-
tinent in the world. Over Onefourth OF the
output is grown in Germany; not quite one
eighth from Russia; usually little less even
than that from Austria-Hungary; about one
ninth from France; about one-sixteenth from
Poland, and slightly less quantity from (con-
tiguous) United States.
In the On1I0Q STATES, dlIuOSL Ou0-ChILu vi IhC
years crop is grown in the North Atlantic
states, but the group of North Central states
east of the Mississippi river runs a 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;
it is very susceptible to climate and cultivation
Left to nature it is only a moderately pro
life plant, and cannot thrive in country too
hot or too cold but has it's habitat essentially
in the temperate zone; on the other hand, it
responds readily to good care, SO that the
more it 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 tu-
bers; well supplied with organic matter, yet no
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 well after certain preceding crops, but
may wither if succeeding itself too regularly.
Liberal manure is necessary, but of the right
kind. The rows should be laid off as close to
gether as practicable without interfering with
horse cultivation, and generally speaking the
seed pieces should be dropped about IL 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 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 a food have long
T@4hi to- r101rr
Not even the latest discovered dashen, Jap
anese and Chinese claimant to tuberous popu-
larity will take it's 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 a garnishment to the more
aristocratic dishes of every feast since it was
discovered, and has supplied many full meal
to the humble masses who do the worlds
work. Nothing but a poem could tell It's
praises, and sonnet is the least tribute
through which our gratitude to Peru should be
expressed.
AS source of industrial alcohol, especially
that substance which is 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 it's merit,
and whatever can provide starcn, has a long
popularity ahead of itself. Starch is one of
the essentials of civilization It's uses are pro-
team, the demand for it is unceasing and for
both art and industry the supply must be con-
slant. With such varied field for it's activ-
ity, therefore, no one should doubt that few
blessings to humanity surpass that which
came to the world through the famous potato.