CHAPTER XL 



CONTINENT OF EUROPE 



A WILL be seen by the graphic map of the 

 world in Chapter I, the aggregate potato 

 production of the countries on the conti- 

 nent of Europe is enormous. 



During his European trip in the interest of 

 American potato growers, the senior author spent 

 considerable time in France and Germany and is 

 indebted to Consul-General Frank M. Mason, 

 Paris; Robert P. Skinner, Consul-General, Ham- 

 burg; Lutten & Son, commission merchants, Ham- 

 burg; and Baron Kriesheim of Bariskow, for many 

 courtesies and kindnesses. 



The manufacture of starch, flour, alcohol, and 

 other products has been developed extensively in 

 some districts. This is described more fully in the 

 chapter on manufactures. 



In a report of Consul-General Robert P. Skinner 

 of Hamburg the following facts about the situ- 

 ation in Germany are given: 



"A number of causes have combined to bring 

 about the immense German potato crop, which has 

 apparently reached the limit of profitableness, as, 

 in spite of the efforts of the German Government 

 to encourage the industrial use of potatoes, only 

 4 per cent, of the total crop is taken up for the 

 manufacture of starch and its by-products, and 

 8 per cent, for the distillation of alcohol. Thus the 



