ARTICHOKES 73 



Dried potatoes are prepared as follows: 



1. By drying raw sliced potatoes. 



2. By drying steamed potatoes in drums (flakes). 



3. By expressing the water and subsequent drying (pressed po- 

 tatoes). 



There is no difference in the palatability of flaked or sliced potatoes 

 for ruminants or horses. Both forms are readily eaten when slightly 

 moistened and mixed with chaffed straw. On the other hand, swine 

 do not like sliced potatoes dried by means of furnace gasses as well as 

 they like other preparations. It seems that the pressed potatoes are 

 somewhat more palatable than either of the other forms. 



Dried potatoes contain about 12 per cent of water, 7.4 per cent crude 

 protein, of which 2.4 per cent is digestible; 70 per cent digestible nitrogen- 

 free extract, 2.3 per cent crude fiber and 3.9 per cent ash. Digestible 

 albumen 1.6 per cent, starch value 71.5 per cent. 



Dried potatoes agree excellently with all species of animals and are 

 easily digested. For horses 33 to 40 per cent of the oat ration may be 

 replaced with dried potatoes (with the addition of 4 ounces of peanut 

 meal). According to Voeltz, the entire oat ration may be replaced with 

 30 pounds of dried potatoes per 1,000 pounds live weight. Dried po- 

 tatoes have a favorable effect upon the "condition" and upon the hair 

 when shedding. One hundred pounds of dried potatoes correspond to 

 about 350 or 400 pounds of raw or cooked potatoes. Large rations of 

 potatoes should be accompanied with daily portions of prepared chalk, 

 potassium phosphate and common salt, of each 50 grams, or a little less 

 than 2 ounces, per horse. 



Cattle will take comparatively larger rations of dried potatoes than 

 of steamed potatoes, and with equally good results. 



Pigs fatten well on dried potato rations and the meat product is sat- 

 isfactory. Provided sufficient proteids are furnished in other form, 

 such as milk, fish meal and tankage, the balance of the ration may con- 

 sist entirely of potatoes. Rations per 1,000 pounds live weight may be 

 composed of 25 to 30 pounds of potato flakes or pressed potatoes (or 16 

 to 20 pounds of dried sliced potatoes) mixed with water, skim milk or 

 whey, well stirred and fed immediately to avoid fermentation. The 

 flakes are sometimes fed in the dry state. 



2. Artichokes 



The tubers of Helianthus tuberosus (artichoke) cultivated in southern 

 Germany and many sections of the United States, contain more water 

 than the potato, but they are also richer in protein and more wholesome. 

 They are given to horses in the raw state, cut or crushed, while swine 

 do better on them when cooked. In other respects they are fed just 

 as potatoes, but it seems that animals must become accustomed to 



