692 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Oct. 2, 1920. 



Farmers^ Experiment Plots* 



Potato Experiments, 1919-20. 



New England District. 



H. BARTLETT, Assistant Inspector of Agriculture. 



Potato experiments were conducted in the New England district last season 

 with*tlie co-operation of the undermentioned farmers : — 



J. F. Chick, Tenterfield. 



T. Farlow, Red Range. 



J. Piper, junior, Llangothlin. 



O. J. Perry, Dumaresq. 



L. M. Rixon, Uralla. 



G. Neville, Kentucky. 



W. H. Lye, Tamworth. 



S. Collins, Gunnedah. 

 The experiments comprised variety trials and manurial trials in the New 

 England district, and variety trials at Tamworth and Gunnedah. The 

 variety trials in the New England district were uniformly fertilised with 

 superphosphate at the rate of 3 cwt. per acre. The variety Manhattan was 

 planted in the manurial trials, with the exception of the plots at Dumaresq 

 and Kentucky, where Queen of the Valley and Coronation were used 

 respectively. 



Owing to the dry conditions during the spring, planting was postponed 

 until November and December. It was unfortunate that this delay was 

 necessary, as the seed deteriorated in quality. This, coupled with the fact 

 thai the conditions were fairly dry, and that the seed was cut, caused a faulty 

 germination in some of the plots. However, altliough the rainfall was below 

 the average, sufficient falls were registered at frequent intervals to produce 

 fairly satisfactory crops, excepting at Tamworth and Gunnedah ; the Tam- 

 worth plot did not yield sufficient to warrant the calculation of the yields, 

 and the Gunnedah plot failed altogether. 



In all cases the soil was in a satisfactory condition for planting, and the 

 sets were dropped after the plough. Drills varied from 32 to 36 inches 

 apart, and the sets fi'om 18 to 20 inches apart in the drills." After planting, 

 the plots were harrowed. During growth the soil was kept free from weeds, 

 and the potatoes were hilled. 



Factor is one of the most promising varieties, and has done well throughout 

 the district, and at Tenterfield and Llangothlin actually topped all others. 

 It is a white-skinned potato, of medium size, even shape, keeps and cooks 

 well, and is a fairly early variety, suitable for early planting. 



