Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1896 — Real Value of Potatoes. [ARTICLE]

Real Value of Potatoes.

The real value of potatoes, depends upon file starch contained, which may vary from thirteen per cent, to a bunt twice as much. While the price does not vary accordingly, it is of advantage tocultivators to select seed rich in starch, and a French inventor. M. A. Allan], has devised an instrument called the feculometer for enabling them, to do this. It depends upon the principle that increase in the proportion of starch increases the density. It is a kind of large aerometer, consisting of a lower*receptacle lor a weight, a central float in fit which is put a kilogramme of very clean: and very dry potatoes, and a rod graduated for density and corresponding richness in starch. When plunged intoa cylindrical vessel of water about twenty inches deep, the inptrtflnent promptly indicates tlio quality of the potato by the depth to which the ml sinks. The same apparatus may lav used for determining the density of other farm products, such aS"beets and grain, a special scale being provided for each kind.