72} 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[lo Nov., 1909. 



POTATO EXPERIMENTAL FIELDS, 1!)()8-1). 



G. Seymour, Potato Ex-peri. 



During the season 1908-9 experimental work was carried out at eight 

 centres, viz : — Broadford, Cheltenham, Coleraine, Daylesford, Larpent, 

 Leongatha, Portland, and Warrnambool. Two of these, Cheltenham and 

 Warrnambool, were devoted to the early crop. That at Cheltenham was 

 carried out at Mr. J. Wedd's market garden, which is devoted exclusively 

 to experimental work. As the soil is of the usual sandy nature charac- 

 teristic of the market gardens in the vicinity of Melbourne, the results 

 obtained on this plot should be of special interest to market gardeners. 

 The other plot was at Mr. George Davidson's farm, near Warrnambool, 

 where the soil is a rich volcanic. As the field had been under grass for 

 a number of years, no manure was used, the object being simply a variety 

 test, to discover the best early and main crop varieties suited to the district. 



The other fields were as follow : — 



Mr. John Zwar's farm, Broadford. — Chocolate volcanic .soil on high 

 ground ; liable to dry out in the summer unless meeting with good summer 

 rains. 



Mr. J. Kirby's estate, Coleraine. — This plot was carried out under the 

 auspices of the local Agricultural Society. The soil, which was of a stiff 

 clayey nature, was too hurriedly prepared for potato planting, with the 

 result that the crop here was a failure. 



Mr. H. M. S. Cox's farm, Wombat Park, Davlesford. — The soil was 

 a deep chocolate volcanic, w^ell prepared. 



Mr. W. Underwood's farm, Larpent, near Colac. — Virgin soil, sandv 

 loam, on clav sub-soil. 



Mr. F. Gooch's farm. Leongatha. — New land, light chocolate volcanic 

 soil, from which a crop of greenstuff had been taken. This field received 

 no preparation, and some doubt was entertained as to the wisdom of 

 planting in it. As the di.strict has a good rainfall the risk was taken and 

 the seed was ploughed under the stubl)le. 



Manures Used. 



BROADFORD, DAVLESFORD. LARPENT, AND LEONGATHA PLOTS. 



