28 BULLETIN 182^ U, S. DEPARTMENT OF AGKICULTUEE. 



The average yield of potatoes was over 291 bushels per acre, re- 

 sulting in a total of 91,660 bushels. Of this amount, 55,110 bushels 

 were used for the distillery, 7,350 bushels were reserved as seed 

 potatoes, 18,300 bushels were distributed among the laborers, 1,800 

 bushels were sold, and 9,100 bushels were used as feed. In the year 

 1907 the potatoes for the distillery were valued at 18.6 cents per 

 bushel, including the spent mash. These potatoes were not sorted. 



The new distillery, constructed by a Breslau firm after the plans 

 of the building section (Bauabteilung) of the Society for Spirit 

 Manufacturers in Berlin, cost about $42,500. The net profits in 1906 

 were $1,200, but the computation does not include the interest on the 

 investment and a 10 per cent depreciation of machinery, due to wear 

 and tear. According to the inspector the value of the distillery, 

 therefore, lay in the utilization of the potatoes whenever desirable. 

 This crop, however, as has been pointed out, is a necessary factor in 

 the proper cultivation of the light soil. 



The allotted output of the distillery is 12,150 gallons.^ The mash- 

 tub capacity is about 790 gallons with a twofold operation and with 

 the possibility of a threefold operation. Eight gallons of spent mash 

 are fed daily to each milch cow and about 59 gallons to the young 

 stock. In addition to the spent mash, hay, etc., each cow gets the 

 following ration : 1 pound of wheat husks, 1 pound of peanut cake, 

 1 pound of cottonseed cake, and 1 pound of sunflower cake.^ As a 

 result of this plan of feeding a daily average of over 2 gallons of milk 

 per cow is obtained, averaging 3|- per cent of fat. The milk is sold 

 to a dairy which pays in accordance with the fat content. 



About 660 gallons of milk are used on the estate, and about 50,190 

 gallons are sold to the dairy in Polkwitz (about 4^ miles distant) 

 at an average of 2.5 cents per 'quart. The owner, w^ho is also one 

 of the principal stockholders of the dairy, receives between $200 

 and $225 in dividends as additional profit. 



In addition to the 100 milch cows there were on the estate 150 

 head of young cattle, 50 draft oxen, 40 horses, 500 sheep, 100 

 chickens, and 100 geese. Pigs are kept on the estate only by resi- 

 dent servants. The value to the estate of these numerous animals 

 can best be appreciated if one sees what quantities of manure are 

 spread OA'^er the fields. The carting is done by the men and the 

 spreading by the women and girls. 



1 Formerly it was 15,850 gallons, but it was diminisbed because of the erection of new 

 distilleries. This increase in the number of agricultural distilleries would seem to in- 

 dicate that the estate owners are convinced of their value, even though the benefit de- 

 rived be but indirect, at least in certain years. 



- These materials are now purchased through a large corporation, an agricultural con- 

 cern with headquarters at Berlin, which not only has branch depots in all large railroad 

 centers but which also controls both price and quality by having analyses made. This 

 cooperation has proved a serious loss to certain traders but is of benefit to agriculturists. 



