720 Potato Flour Industry in Holland. [Nov., 



THE POTATO FLOUR INDUSTRY IN 



HOLLAND. 



Th. I. Mansholt, 

 Inspector of Agriculture, The Hague. 



The potato flour industry in Holland developed during the 

 second half of the 19th century on the " fen-colonies " in the 

 northern provinces of Holland — Groningen, Drenthe, Overysel 

 and Friesland — where circumstances were specially favourable 

 to the extension of this industry. These districts formerly con- 

 sisted of vast stretches of moorland sparsely inhabited, and 

 covered with layers of peat many feet deep. Even in the 17th 

 century some of these peat bogs were under cultivation, and 

 since that time hundreds of canals have been dug, affording excel- 

 lent means of transport by water. By the application of nitro- 

 genous and potash manures the soil has been rendered specially 

 suitable for the cultivation of potatoes, while fairly efficient and 

 inexpensive labour has been available among the peat workers 

 of the district. The development of the industry appears, in 

 fact, to have been due to the combination of suitable soil, good 

 canals, cheap fuel and labour, and the increasing demand for 

 potato flour for different purposes. 



In 1840 the first potato flour factory was established in this 

 part of the country, and since then many more factories have 

 been built. After 1890 frequent disputes between the growers 

 and manufacturers about the price paid for the potatoes led to 

 the foundation of several factories on a co-operative basis, and 

 at the present time most factories work on a co-operative basis. 



The members of these co-operative factories undertake to 

 deliver quantities of potatoes proportionate to the number of 

 shares they possess, and they are responsible for the debts of the 

 society in the same proportion. At the end of the financial year 

 every shareholder participates in the profit on the sale of flour. 



The capital necessary for building a large modern mill, produc- 

 ing about 10,000 tous of flour, amounts to 1,200,000 Dutch 

 guilders (about £100,000), while in addition a working capital 

 of about £60,000 is required. At the present time there are 

 over thirty potato flour mills in the Netherlands. The co-opera- 

 tive mills orisnnallv formed the " Growers' Association of Flour- 

 mills," whilst the others formed the " Association of Private 

 Flour Manufacturers " These associations were founded to 



