Uses of the Potato 265 



small amount of the protein and ash or mineral matter. 

 Potatoes which are peeled and soaked in water before 

 cooking often lose as high as 7 per cent of their nutrients, 



USE FOR STARCH 



The principal article of manufacture from potatoes is 

 starch. Until cornstarch supplanted it, potato starch 

 was largely used in cooking. Now it is mainly employed 

 for making sizing for paper and textiles, and for other 

 technical purposes. Potato starch has also sometimes 

 been used as an adulterant of fine flours and starches. 



The total annual production of starch from potatoes in 

 the United States is about 15,500 tons, of which 6000 

 tons are produced in the county of Aroostook, Maine. 

 The soil of this county is unusually well adapted to potato 

 growing. 



Unless the price of marketable potatoes is very low, 

 only the small injured or refuse potatoes are sold to the 

 starch factory. Whenever the price of good merchant- 

 able potatoes is above 50 cents a barrel, the farmers find 

 it more profitable to sell directly to the market. 



Process of starch manufacture 



The potatoes which are kept in a storehouse are carried, 

 after weighing, to a revolving washer about 12 feet long 

 and 18 to 24 inches in diameter. They are pushed to 

 the comminutor through the washer by means of a per- 

 forated spiral or by arms attached to a revolving axle. 

 A stream of water flowing in the opposite direction to 

 that of the motion of the potatoes secures the final wash- 

 ing with clean water. By the time the potatoes have 



