Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-01-30

should supplement them with more
bulky foods with a low content OF
protein and fat As a whole, nuts
may be classed among the staple foods
and not simply as food accessories.
At usual prices. nuts are reasonable
sources Of protein and energy. Pea
nuts supply protein and energy very
cheaply. even compared with such
staple foods as bread and beans.
There are a number OF nut foods on
the market, but 1t may be stated that
there Is little to be gained from the
standpoint Of food value or economy
In their use in place of the ordinary
nuts and homemade nut products. es-
pecially by healthy persons who are
willing to masticate their food thor
oughly and to use nuts in reasonable
combinations. Unless something has
been added, the nutritive materials in
such special preparations can not be
greater than the nuts from which they
are made, though in the mechanical
condition or in some other way the
foods may be better filter for ready
assimilation. Furthermore, nut but
tiers, and similar foods give a pleas
ant variety to the diet, and they are
relished by many who would not care
for the unprepared nuts.
Though less subject to contamina-
ton than other foods, nuts should be
handled and stored under good condi-
tons, and especially should be pro-
tected from dampness and insect en-
emies.
The Role Of Potatoes In the National
Dietary.
The potato stands next to the ce-
reals as the most important food Of
northern nations, according to the de-
partment Of agriculture. In Germany
this is particularly true, for the per
capita consumption is rs bushels,
while ours is estimated at &c bushels.
An interesting study Of Behrend
shows that the consumption Of pota-
toes in Germany stands in inverse ra-
ito to the wealth and social status of
the people. The well-to-do people there
use 3.6 bushels each per annum, the
peasantry 8.S bushels, and the labor
ers in western Germany 1913 bushels.
while In the eastern provinces the
per capita consumption of the poorer
laborers is IL bushels each per year.
Potato Starch.
A certain quantity of potato starch
is used in this country for sizing in
cotton mills, for which purpose it is
preferred to corn starch, says the de-
partment of agriculture. There has
been In the country produced an aver
age Of 100000 pounds Of potato
starch annually and large annual i'm
portations from Germany have been
made in addition. In 1910 there were
imported 10,600,200 pounds Of starch
and 4,424,200 pounds Of potato dex-
trim.
The manufacture OF starch from po-
tatoes in the United States is at pres
emit confined to the utilization OF culls
and Of potatoes unfit for storage or
shipment because OF partial infection
with tuber rot. The margin OF profit
is not large, in spite OF a protective
tariff OF one cent per pound. The fac
tories are able to run only six weeks
In the year, and the interest and other
overhead charges are therefore high.
It seems possible to make some eco
nomic improvements In this system by
introducing new factory methods, and
the quantity Of potatoes used could
be increased, especially in districts
remote from the markets, where a
more rigid sorting should be prac-
ticed before shipment and all inferior
potatoes kept at home. This would
not only tend to reduce freight
charges, but would give the consumer
in a distant market a grade OF pota-
toes which would waste much less in
preparation for the table and for
which relatively higher price could
be paid than for the present unsorted
shipments. There is a possibility also
that a method may be worked out for
drying, culled and surplus potatoes on
the farm and the dried product later
used for starch making. The total
quantity required would. nevertheless,
not make large impression on a sur
plus potato crop.