270 The Potato 



are charged twice a day. The size of the kilns is, of 

 course, proportionate to the capacity of the house. For 

 a house using 1200 barrels of potatoes a day the kilns 

 are about 40 feet long and 30 feet wide, and the drying 

 shelves are about 15 feet in height. 



After the starch is thoroughly dried, it is placed in 

 heaps in order that the moisture may be evenly dis- 

 tributed throughout the mass. It is evident from the 

 method of drying that some parts of the starch come from 

 the kilns drier than others, as this banking or heaping of 

 the starch is very essential in order to get uniformity of 

 moisture. After the mass of starch has become uniform 

 in its content of moisture, it is placed in barrels and is 

 then ready for transportation. 



Uses of potato starch 



Starch and its by-products have many uses in the 

 technical and industrial world. It possesses peculiar 

 properties rendering it especially valuable for use in 

 print works. The makers of prints are even willing to 

 pay a considerable increase in price for potato starch 

 over that which they would have to pay for starch from 

 Indian corn. 



In the textile industries, it has come to be used exten- 

 sively and in many ways. 

 j^l It is used in the manufacture of cotton, woolen, linen 

 { and silk goods for three distinct purposes : as a sizing 

 ' for the warp yarn before it is woven ; for finishing goods 

 after they have been woven; in the form of dextrin or 

 roasted starch, as a thickener, or vehicle for applying 

 colors to the fabric. 



In Europe, especially in England, large quantities of 



