176 POTATOES 



variety may be modified by selection and by the condition 

 under which they are grown, but the type remains the same. 

 The blossom of the potato may be cross-fertilized, but this 

 does not appear in any way to affect the tuber ; however, 

 the true seed or potato ball is materially affected and these 

 seeds if planted will not reproduce the variety of potatoes 

 from which they are taken. 



Uses. The chief use of potatoes is for human food. A 

 considerable quantity is used for the manufacture of starch, 

 potato flour, animal food, and alcohol, when the price of 

 potatoes is sufficiently low to admit of their use for such 

 purposes. Large potato centers often use the small or ir- 

 regular potatoes that are not suited for market for starch 

 and alcohol. The European countries utilize their potato 

 crops to much better advantage and with less waste than 

 the United States. When the market price of potatoes is 

 low farmers make use of them for the feeding of farm 

 animals. 



All farm animals including poultry relish potatoes. 

 They can be fed raw to advantage to all animals except 

 poultry and hogs. For these they should be cooked. 



Storing for Seed. It is important to keep seed 

 potatoes in a cool cellar so as to prevent sprouting, for if 

 allowed to sprout much plant food is removed and the 

 vitality is materially reduced. If the windows and doors 

 leading to the potatoes in storage are left open during the 

 night and closed during the day after warm weather arrives 

 the arrangement will assist in keeping the cellar cool. If 

 the potatoes have sprouted, the sprouts should be removed 

 before planting. 



Planting. - - The tubers used for seed are usually cut be- 

 fore planting. The cutting is of ten done by hand. Machines 



