ioSept., 1908.] Potato Experimental Fields, 1907-8. 



567 



New Zealand Pinkeye v. Carman No. i. 



In the 1906-7 Report reference was made to the value of Carman 

 No. I as an early \'ariety as compared with New Zealand Pinkeye. The 

 objection to Carman has been that it will not stand any hardship, and is 

 not a good cropper. The opinion has been gaining ground for some time 

 past that Carman has had its day and is no longer to be relied upon as 

 a cropper ; but as to quality, no complaint is made as it is undoubtedly 

 a superior potato to New Zealand Pinkeye. 



It is not the purpose of experimental work to advertise any particular 

 variety, but purely to determine in the interests of growers which is best, 

 by dealing with all varieties alike and placing the results before the 

 public. With this object in view Carman No. i was tested against 

 N.Z. Pinkeye in the following districts : — Newlyn, Kilmore, Trafalgar, 

 and Neerim. Taking the results of the four plots N.Z. Pinkeye gave 

 the heaviest yield by 6 cwt. of marketable and i cwt. small potatoes, but 

 the value of Carman was ids. to 15s. per ton more. The weights were 

 as follow : — 



Trafalgar. Newlyn. 



tons. ewts. qrs. tons. cwts. (|rs. 



o 420 



o 410 



N.Z. Pinkeye 

 Carman No. i 





 10 



The averages of all the four plots a.re : — 



N.Z. Pinkeye 

 Carman No. i 



tons. cwts. qrs. £ s. d. 



4 18 o per acre at 70s. 17 3 o 

 4 12 o per acre at 80s. 18 8 o 



The above figures go to prove that Carman is a more profitable variety 

 than Pinkeye in an adverse season. Tt must be remembered too that 

 in seasons favourable to growth tubers of' the latter are unsaleable on 

 account of being hollow. 



Gem of The South. 



For planting in the Drouin plot Mr. Hearn provided a parcel of Gem 

 of the South grown by him from seed obtained from Mr. Russell Kidd 

 of Tasmania. This potato is similar in appearance and habit of growth 

 to the Brown's River. This seed was planted beside a parcel of good 

 P>rown's River as a test of productiveness, and proved superior to Brown's 



