358 



Potato Drying in Germany. 



[SEPT.^ 



separate award. They differ from the Committee, however, in 

 regard to the estimation of par value" or average conditionr 

 and think that this cannot be defined in any other way than by 

 taking each case on its own merits. 



The question of the proper utih'zation of the surplus potato 

 crop is one which has recently attracted a good deal of attention 



about 240 millions are used for human consumption, 35O' 

 millions are fed to live stock, 102 millions are used for seed, 

 and about 80 millions by various industries. The balance of 88' 

 million cwts. is lost by rotting during storage. In years of 

 exceptionally good crops very great difficulty is experienced in- 

 disposing of the surplus, as the alcohol and starch factories are 

 unable to absorb any further quantities, and cannot be regarded' 

 as outlets for the excess production. New means of utilizing 

 the potato crop have therefore been sought, and it seems to be 

 thought that a satisfactory solution has been found in potato 

 drying. 



In 1903 the Association of Spirit Manufacturers in Germany 

 offered several prizes, amounting to ;^I50 in all, for potato- 

 drying machines for large and small quantities, and there are 

 now a number of systems on the market. In most of them the 

 potatoes are cut up into pieces, and dried by means of hot air, 

 ordinary coal or coke being used as heating material. The cost 

 of an installation may vary from ^500 to ;^6,8oo, and the cost 

 of drying from 2d. to 6d. per cwt. The return obtained for 

 raw potatoes treated in this way depends not only on the 

 cost of drying, but also on their starch content : thus, if the 

 cost of drying is put at between 4.6. and 5d., and raw potatoes 

 with 16 per cent, of starch are taken as worth is. per cwt., the 

 value of the dried product would be 5s. 6d. per cwt. With a 

 reduced charge for drying or an increased starch content the 

 value would be increased. 



The real value, however, of potato drying lies in the fact that 

 it enables a product of the farm, which might otherwise be 



Potato Drying- 

 in Germany. 



in Germany. It is estimated* that about 

 860 million cwts. of potatoes are annually 

 harvested in Germany, and of this crop 



* AfiU. der Dent. Laud. Gesell., June 23rd, 1906. 



