9 Sept.. 1907.] Potato Expcnnuiital l-iclds. 547 



POTATO EXPERIMENTAL FIELDS, 19()()-;. 



George Seymour, Potato Expert. 



The experiments conducted durin^; 1906-7 are largel\ a continuation 

 of the pre\ioiis year's operations. They are so entirely as far as the 

 manure dressings on the varieties planted on the 5 acre forage fields, where 

 artificial manures, lime and farmyard man'jre comprised the dressing, are 

 concerned. But as artificial manures has not hithertoi given satisfactory 

 results on the rich volcanic soils, and there being instances on record 

 where the \ ield was greater where no^ manure was used, it was accordingly 

 decided to trv a combination of farmyard and artificial manures for this 

 class of soil. Three plots were laid out for this purpose; one at Mr. 

 Lane's farm at Koroit ; another on Mr. Walter's farm, Coghill's Creek; 

 and the third at Mr. T. A. Park's farm, Romsey ; the latter field had also 

 a subsoiled .section. The results may be considered encouraging, but as 

 it is impossible to form definite conclusions from one year's operations, 

 it has been considered advisal>le to carry on the experiment for another 

 season. 



Artificial manure and lime separatelx were used on the plots where 

 little or no farmyard manure is available, because it is recognised that 

 any scheme of manuring tO' be of practical value shall be of such a character 

 that where results prove it to be profitable farmers in the district will 

 be able to adopt it. Plots of this class were situated at Kinglake and 

 Emerald. The plots at Turkeith and Kilmore were also treated with 

 the same (iressing. Brieflv stated the manuring was as follows: — 



1 . Artificial manure, lime, and farmvard manure. 



2. Farmvard and artificial manure in combination. 



3. Artificial manure and lime. 



The results of these experiments are dealt with by mv colleague, ^\x. 

 F. ¥.. L(^e, Agricultural Superintendent, on page 556. 



In dealing with the plots generally it must be borne in mind that some 

 of them are not on potato land and the only hope of obtaining a moderate 

 crop is meeting with the most favorable weather conditions during the 

 whole growing period of the plant. It may not be out of place to state 

 that anv soil can be converted into a potato producing soil and much can 

 be done artificially to combat unfavorable weather conditions but the cost 

 is out of all proportion to the average value of the crop. One of the 

 fields of this character is that at Mr. Anderson's farm, Digger's Rest — on- 

 of the 5 acre forage fields. The section used for potatoes was under 

 cereals during 1905-6, was worked up to a very good tilth and, when 

 planted in August, was in very satisfactory condition. The soil may be 

 described as a clay loam with coarse gravel, having clay patches here 

 and there throughout. This field was planted on 3rd August when the 

 soil temperature ranged up to ^5 degrees at noon which may be con- 

 sidered satisfactory for the season. Four weeks after planting a heav\' 

 fall of rain occurred — 5 inches or over fell in a couple of days — and 

 destroyed all chance of a crop. The next field to suffer from similar 

 conditions was Mr. Wylie's at Turkeith. This field is a clay soil with 

 a slight admixture of fine sand and is very tough and sticky when wet. 

 It was planted on 19th Octol^er, which may be considered late for this 

 district, but owing to hea\-y rains in Septemljer it was impossilile to prepare 



