THE POTATO 293 



of preparing and preserving potatoes that stocks 

 may be carried over from the "fat" (large pro- 

 ducing) to the "lean" (small producing) years. 

 This would balance or equalize supplies to guard 

 against possibility of famine or an approach to it 

 because of crop shortage in densely populated 

 countries. 



In the Daily Consular and Trade Reports of the 

 Bureau of Manufactures of the Department of 

 Commerce and Labor, February 19, 1910, Consul 

 Thomas H. Norton, of Chemnitz, describes a proc- 

 ess recently introduced by a Prussian firm by 

 which potatoes may be converted into a dry con- 

 centrated meal. He writes as follows: 



"The potato occupies a relatively more impor- 

 tant position in Germany than in other European 

 countries. It is not only employed largely for 

 food for both man and beast, but also for conver- 

 sion into starch and alcohol. The 1908 crop was 

 estimated at 46,500,000 metric tons (51,256,950 

 short tons), 13,000,000 tons being used for human 

 food and 19,000,000 tons for feeding domestic 

 animals. Starch factories utilized 1,500,000 tons, 

 distilleries 2,500,000 tons, while 5,500,000 tons 

 were required for seed. There remained 5,000,000 

 tons, lost by decay, freezing, etc. German econo- 

 mists have recognized the extent of this national 

 loss, of about $28,500,000 in value, especially be- 

 cause the empire now imports annually about 

 $72,000,000 worth of cattle fodder. Nearly 40 

 per cent, of this sum, paid to foreign agriculture, 

 could be saved if the loss by subsequent decay in 

 the harvest potato crop could be prevented. 



"Numerous processes have been submitted in 

 response to an offering of prizes amounting to 



