■S Nov., 1907.] Potato Experimental Fields. 649 



FOUL-IN-THE-FOOT OF CATTLE. 



This is a disease of liie feet of large cattle resembling ver\ much foot- 

 rot in sheep. It is induced largely by the softening of the' horn of the 

 claws, resulting from standing continuously in manure and filth, such as 

 frequently happens in ill-kept byres, where cattle are kept housed, as in 

 Northern countries, during the winter months. In Australia, where cattle 

 are for the most part kept continuously at pasture, and only housed at 

 milking time, the disease is rare. 



The treatment requires to be on lines identical with those recommended 

 for footrot in sheep. 



POTATO EXPERIMENTAL FIELDS. 



Imported Varieties. 



George Seymour, Potato Expert. 



In submitting the following report on the varieties of potatoes im- 

 ported by the Department of Agriculture, from Messrs. William Davie 

 and Co., potato growers and .seedsmen, Haddington, Scotland, it should 

 bt mentioned that the whole parcel was composed of white-skinned varieties 

 only one having any distinguishing marks, viz. — King Edward VII., which 

 is tinged with pink at the eyes and crown ends. This parcel of seed con- 

 sisted of 25 varieties, and arrived in Melbourne early in February, 1905. 

 The potatoes were planted as an autumn crop by the following growers in 

 the Metropolitan area, viz. : — Messrs. H. Brown (Mordialloc), Clement 

 i^Ormond), and Kitchen (Glen Huntly) ; and in the country districts by 

 Messrs. W. Crowe (Koroit), W. Goldie (Port Fairy), and John Newton 

 (Kingston). The produce of these plots was planted the following spring 

 at Mrs. Bland's (Yarram), and Mr. Hill's (lona). Both plots met with 

 adverse weather conditions, the yield in each place teing very light. (See 

 Journal for August, 1906.) The seed obtained from the Yarram and 

 lona plots was planted in November, 1906, on my farm at Romsev. 

 Yields are included in the table on page 654. 



The produce of the 1907 crop has been distributed in 28-lb. parcels, 

 containing four \arieties (7 lbs. of each). In this way the different 

 varieties have been widely distributed throughout the State, and it is 

 hoped that every grower will furnish the Department with particulars 

 of the results obtained bv him, and state which varieties are best suited 

 to his particular district. The whole of the varieties have been planted 

 at the Agricultural High Schools at Sale and Warrnambool, and further 

 opportunities of ascertaining their respective merits will thereby be 

 afforded. 



None of the varieties can be considered superior in quality to many of 

 the old sorts grown in Victoria in the past. This may be accounted for in 

 a measure by the fact that the potato^ most in demand in the old country 

 is the one that resists disease ; this means robustness of habit which is 

 often accompanied by a lower quality of tuber. The varieties most likely 

 to find a place among those already grown in this State are Warrior, The 

 Factor, Table Talk, Scottish Triumph, Main Crop, British Queen, Sir 

 John Llewellvn, Roval Kidney, and Duke of 'Rothesay. 



Many of the varieties spoken of highly in Great Britain do not seem 

 suited to this climate. Some of the seed was in a wasted condition when 



