568 Journal of Agriculture. [10 Sept., 1908. 



River in yield and appearance, the cooking quality being about the same. 

 The results were as follow : — 



tons. cwts. qrs. lbs. £ s. d. 



Gem of the South- 

 Table and Seed ... 4. 18 I 18 at 80s. 

 Small ... ... 0830 at 30s. 



Brown's River — 



Table and Seed ... 2 17 o o at 80s. 

 Small ... ... o 10 3 o at 3cs, 



Bud Variation and Sporting. 



Much attention during the past season has been given to this matter ; 

 but as no definite conclusions have yet been come to little can be said 

 beyond the fact that many of the varieties on the market at the present 

 time have been originated in such manner. The possibilities of the pro- 

 duction of new varieties are almost unlimited. The experiments in this 

 connexion will be carried out on a more extended scale. 



A large number of varieties were grouped together in a garden plot 

 for the purpose of observing the habits of growth and tubering of different 

 plants, and also for identification purposes. The separate tests numbered 

 123. Many of the \'arieties wejre sent in by growers wishing to have 

 the proper name of the variety. Much useful information was obtained, 

 but the season was against satisfactory observation as many of the varie- 

 ties, owing to the dry season, did not bloom ; neither was the growth of 

 the plants satisfactory from the same cause. 



Proportion of Small in Varieties. 



One fact has been very clearly brought out by the experiments — that 

 some varieties produce under all conditions a very low percentage of 

 small tubers, whilst others, undei the slightest adverse conditions, pro- 

 duce a very high percentage. Among those of the former class Carman 

 No. I, Carman No. 3, Vermont Gold Coin, Vanguan, Burbank, Dela- 

 ware, and of the latter Brown's River, Old Pinkeye, and, occasionally, 

 Copperskin and Black Prince. The explanation of this is to be found 

 in two causes ; under the first, some varieties ha\e the habit of producing 

 a large number of stolons or underground branches which bear tubers and 

 are consequently heavy croppers undei" favorable conditions. Others 

 produce fewer stolons and consequently fewer tubers which, having a better 

 food supply, develop a more marketable run of produce. Under the second 

 cause the life of the plant in different varieties varies. Carman No. i 

 and New Zealand Pinkeye will, under favorable conditions, produce 

 a crop of tubers in 12 to 14 weeks whereas others require twenty weeks 

 or more. Amon^g the latter may be included the B.rown's River family; 

 in the case of the former the tubers are formed and well grown before 

 the latter have well begun tubering. It often happens that just at this 

 critical period a spell of dry weather sets in, the food supply stops, the 

 tubers harden, and should a fall of rain come before the plant dies off 

 it frequently sets up a new growth of leaves and causes a second growth 

 of the tubers resulting in " prongy " or hollow tubers. As the resiult of 

 this the Brown's River and similar varieties are losing favour with 



