JO Mav. 1911.] (}(>vcrinii(Ni Expcriinciiial Farm, Chi'lit'n/iam. 321 



" Traying " Seed Potatoes. 



One of the most interesting and successful experiments carried out this 

 season was the " traying " or sprouting of seed potatoes under the direc- 

 tion of Mr. G. Seymour, Potato Expert, who is a strong advocate of the 

 process as a preliminary to planting.* The results obtained are most 

 encouraging and should appeal to the potato growers throughout the State. 

 The system is destined to become generally adopted in the near future 

 when growers recognise the benefits to be obtained in the heavier yields 

 that result. 



Planting for the main crop of potatoes generally takes place during the 

 months of June and July. Frosts are very often the cause of great losses 

 during the early spring through biting back the young potato plant. Mr. 

 Seymour justly claims that the traying system overcomes a good deal of 

 the danger, becau.se the seed, when trayed, may be planted later in the 

 season. This means that, instead of planting the tubers in June and 

 July, the potatoes are kept in shallow trays, placed on racks in a .shed, 

 and not planted out until September. During the two months, the 

 potatoes are allowed to grow or sprout in the trays and the eyes produce 

 short, strong, and healthy shoots and not the weak spindly growth that one 

 sees when the potatoes are stacked in bags or heaps. The growth is so 

 strong under the traying system that, when the potatoes are planted, there 

 is no check, witli the result that there is not much difference in the time 

 of digging operations. It also has the great advantage of gi\'ing the 

 grower the opportunity of selecting sound seed at the time of planting 

 and, further, the ground between the months of June and September can 

 he utilized for other purposes. 



The digging of the potato i)lots on the farm, which took phice on 4th 

 January, 191 1, was witnes.sed and checked by a number of interested local 

 vegetable gardeners who were convinced of the great advantages to be 

 derived from the traying system and the use of artificial fertilizers. One 

 of the features of the test was that the artificial manures, when used with 

 stable manure, gave much higher returns than stable manure alone. 



Experimental Plots. 



The results, as tabulated below, from the experimental onion, turnip, 

 cabbage, tomato, cucumber, pea, bean and other numerous vegetable plots 

 clearly show tin' lucessity of growing these improved varieties. 



Besides \egc-tables, a small portion of the farm has been devoted to 

 fodder growing witli wonderfully good results, as will be seen from the 

 illustrations. Varieties of Maize, Westernwolths Rye Grass, Toowo<')mba 

 Canary Grass. Sulla, Lucerne, Earth Almonds, Pea Nuts and Soya 

 Beans have been grown. 



The plots have been inspected by farmers from all i)arts t)f the State 

 and grcatlv admired. It is to be hoped that other persons interested in 

 vegetable or fodder growing will lake adxantage of the o[>portunity to 

 personally inspei t this farm. I'he manager will be only too pleased to 

 show iheni over and explain the methods in detail. 



• \'i>\:\\n Kx|>irinii<iits :it rii.-ltciilnim. HMO II. piini- 171. Manli HHl. .loiirnnl. 



