190 THE POTATO. 



a quantity of grit, that has ere now caused purging to the 

 horse as well as to other animals. There are men worth 

 listening to who have declared that it is the diseased roots, 

 or such as have been exposed to sun and turned green, 

 that cause the liquor to be so unwholesome; it may be 

 so; at all events it is not wholesome, and it is folly indeed to 

 try serving it all the more so because there is very little 

 nutriment in vegetable broth at the best. We believe it 

 has been conclusively proved that potatoes greened by 

 exposure above the ground are in a degree poisonous to 

 man. Why, then, should not they be bad for the lower 

 animals? They, however, make the best seed, and hence 

 need not be wasted. 



Potato Parings. Even potato parings are whole- 

 some and useful pig food. This, peasants' wives show us. 

 The farm labourer buys his small pig a little after it is 

 weaned, and his wife rears it on potato peelings, waste 

 potatoes, and other vegetables with broths, all cooked up 

 together. A little meal is, of course, thrown in, but half 

 a sack has to go a long w T ay. And so, the youngster grows 

 and waxes strong, and eventually is fattened up with meal 

 into a substantial baconer. Without potato waste the cost 

 would be considerably greater, and the carcass probably 

 not so heavy, nor of so good a quality. Then, how cheap 

 potatoes on the farm are sometimes. We have known 

 any amount offered at 35s. per ton. Then is the time to 

 get cheap pig food, and feed for other stock, too, for that 

 matter. 



Steaming: v. Boiling; Potatoes. Although we 

 have once or twice touched on cooking the tubers, a few 

 more words on the subject will not be out of place. The 

 better plan of cooking is to steam. The majority of pota- 

 toes brought to our own tables are spoiled for want of 

 cooking properly in short, for want of steaming or bak- 

 ing. The latter plan is not practical for farm stock, but 

 steaming is. In steaming, the tubers are saved from being 



