570 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[lo Sept., 1908. 



growers, many declaring that they will not plant them again. It would 

 be a mattej: for regret if this old favourite should be given up. 



It must be impressed upon growers that to get satisfactory results 

 with this variety, the land must be in good heart. Another point is the 

 necessity of increasing the moisture holding capacity of the soil so as to 

 keep up the growth during a dry period ; this condition can be influenced 

 largely by a liberal supply of organic manure, by following a system of 

 rotation which includes pasture, of which clover iForms the staple. It is 

 also assisted by proper cultivation and tillage of the growing crop. The 

 following table will give a good idea: of the difference in varieties : — 



SUBSOILING. 



A section of Mr. Robb's field at Romsey was subsoiled to a depth of 

 12 inches and was planted with Brown's River seed. The results are not 

 satisfactory, as damage by thrip occurred and no potatoes large enough 

 for table purposes were produced. In the 1906-7 experiment at Mr. 

 Park's the unsubsoiled section gave the heaviest yield, giving 11 cwt. per 

 acre more than the subsoiled section, showing a clear loss, apart from 

 the extra cost, which was considerable. In the present experiment the 

 subsoiling resulted in a slightly heavier yield, and was most consistent 

 throughout all sections. 



It should be stated that sections D, E and F were on higher ground 

 than the other portion of the field, and consequently more liable to dry 

 out than the other portion. From the above table it will be noticed that 

 the unsubsoiled sections D, E and F produced very few seed tubers, only 

 averaging 6 cwt. per acre which would seeim to indicate that the high 

 land was benefited by the work in a dry season. The crop was so un- 

 satisf actor \- that no definite conclusions can be arrived at. 



