Nov. 2, 1920.] 



Agricultural Gazette of N.S. W. 



781 



Farmers^ Experiment Plots* 



Potato Experiments, 1919-20. 



Upper North Coast District. 



W. D. KERLE, Inspector of Agriculture. 



VAiiiKTY and manurial experiments with potatoes were conducted during the 



season 1919-20 in co-operation with the following farmers : — 



Henry Short, " Warrawee," Dorrigo. 



Frank AUard, " Glenrose," Brooklana, Eastern Dorrigo. 



James Wilson, Coramba. 



Albert Eggins, " Bromley," Grafton. 



E. N. Mackinnon, Lawrence. 



G. P. Collins, " Colindale," Casino. 



D. Chisholin, Kyogle. 



Results were obtained from all these centres with the exception of Casino 

 and Kyogle, where the crops were complete failures owing to the drought 

 whicli prevailed — the worst in the history of the district. The successful 

 plots supply data for the Clarence and Orara rivers district and the Eastern 

 Dorrigo and Dorrigo plateaux. These districts vary widely both meteoro- 

 logically and in soil characteristics, and these variances explain the big 

 differences in yields. The differences were very marked last year, the upper 

 North Coast generally experiencing a drought of unprecedented severity, 

 while on the Dorrigo (2,800 feet above sea-level) a heavy rainfall was 

 recorded. 



The accompanying table shows the rainfall records of each centre during 

 the growing period of the crop. The figures reflect the dryness of the 

 important months for high yields of potatoes in the rivers district and are 

 sufficient evidence of the adverse nature of the season. Temperatures, too, 

 were verv hio[h, and falls of rain of less than an inch were not of much 

 material value to the crop, being rapidly dissipated by the hot drying winds 

 which invariably followed. 



Table showing: Rainfall during (irow ing St^asons. 



