296 THE POTATO 



convenience in transportation. The chemical analy- 

 sis of potato meal, dried as above described, gives 

 the following percentages: Water, 11.50; fat, 0.31; 

 protein, 3.73; ash, 2.06; fibre, 1.71; carbohydrates, 

 80.69. 



"Pressed potato cake is easily broken up by 

 hand, and can be fed to animals, alone or mixed 

 with other forms of fodder, preferably after mois- 

 tening with a little water, when it is at once 

 softened. 



"By the combined processes of pressure and 

 suction nearly three quarters of the weight of raw 

 potatoes are removed in the form of a cloudy 

 liquor. This portion is allowed to stand in res- 

 ervoirs until all traces of starch have settled to 

 the bottom. The clear liquor is then boiled and 

 filtered with the aid of a vacuum apparatus. 

 A precipitate is obtained of crude protein 

 amounting to about 2 per cent, of the original 

 weight of the tubers. By proper treatment this 

 yields about 80 per cent, of technically pure 

 albumen, which is constantly in demand in Ger- 

 man markets. 



"The residual liquors from the protein precipi- 

 tate contain small amounts of sugar, salts, and 

 nitrogenous matter. They can be advantage- 

 ously used for irrigation purposes on agricultural 

 lands. 



"The plant requisite for the treatment of 

 10,000 tons of potatoes during a season of about 

 eight months costs $18,000 to $19,000. The 

 machinery alone, without a press for transforming 

 the meal into cakes, costs $12,000. For a building, 

 $3,000 suffices, and the remainder is needed for 

 pumps, motive power, washing vats, etc. 



"The force needed to operate the plant con- 



