lo Mar., 19.1i-] Potato Expirimcnts at Cheltenham. 



171 



POTATO EXPERIMENTS AT CHELTENHAM, 1910-11. 



G. Seymour, Potato Expert. 



The operations on the plot at Mr. Wedd's market garden at Chelten- 

 ham, in connexion with the potato experiments, were a continuation of 

 the two previous seasons' work, the object being to further test the value 

 of sprouted seed, and also the effect of different manures on the yield of 

 the crop. 



The first plot was planted in July, 1907, but in September the crop 

 was cut doiwn badly by frost. It was noted that the early crops in 

 this district in 1905 and 1906 also suffered from the same cause. It 

 was therefore evident that, in following ordinary methods, a satisfactory 

 crop could only be obtained in seasons which were free from frost during 

 the early stages of the plants' growth, and that something must be done 

 to overcome this serious drawback. 



Consequently, in 1908, it was decided to tray the seed and plant it 

 in a sprouted condition six to eight weeks later. A portion of the plot 

 was planted with unsprouted seed on 3rd August ; the plants came up 

 well, but were cut down twice by frost. The sprouted seed planted on 

 1 8th September came up well, and received no check, some varieties 

 showing an increased market value equal to ^35 per acre in favour of 

 sprouted seed ; the whole field showed an average increase of over 4 tons 

 or ^28 per acre. (Potatoes were then selling at jP^^ per ton.) 



This experiment was repeated in 1909-10, the sea.son being favourable 

 for the early crop. The increased yield was over 2 tons per acre. On 

 reference to Table I. it will be noted that one of the varieties which 

 promised best was the only one during the whole series that gave a lighter 

 yield for sprouted seed. See Journal for November. 1910. page 718. 



For the past season (1910- 11) the difference in favour of sprouted seed 

 ■varied from 2\ cwt. to 6 tons 6| cwt. per acre. 



Table i. — Yield of Plots, 1908-9 to 1910-11. 



• Yield (2 tons 2 cwt.) given in sixth column is a derrease. 

 U 2 



