20 BULLETIN 81, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Some means of disposing of surplus potatoes is an economic neces- 

 sity. If this can be done at a price reasonably above the cost of 

 production, the potato crop will increase and a reserve supply of 

 potatoes grown for industrial uses will be established that will meet 

 the needs of all short years. 



Diversification or the introduction of better farming systems will 

 be a step in this direction. Means should be worked out for keeping 

 more live stock, especially swine, on potato farms, and a better 

 understanding of the feeding value of potatoes and of the best 

 rations combining potatoes with other feeds should be secured. 



The industrial uses of potatoes for starch, dextrin, alcohol, etc., 

 require investigation in the United States. Perhaps the most press- 

 ing need along this line is the adaptation of a method of drying j)ota- 

 toes, as practiced in Germany, to American conditions, to the end 

 that surplus quantities and culls of this perishable product may be 

 preserved and by removal of its water rendered transportable to 

 market. This problem is closely connected with that of varieties, 

 for the starch content of most American potatoes is low, often too 

 low for profitable drying. Breeding for higher starch content needs 

 to be promoted, as well as breeding for table qualit}^ productivity, 

 and disease resistance. 



A nation-wide cooperation for the solution of these different phases 

 of the potato question should not leave out of consideration the 

 problem of values from a national viewpoint: That the cost of pro- 

 ducing and distributing potatoes should be kept down to such a point 

 that the market price of this staple food shall be comparable with 

 other staples. Marketing investigations and related problems of 

 distribution demand active supjDort. 



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