lo Nov.. 1909-] Potato Experimental Fields, 1908-9. 



735 



The Varieties. 

 New Seedlings. — The raising of new varieties from seed, that is, the 

 fruit or balls of the plant, has not been very successful in the past. 

 Many attempts have been made and new varieties have been produced, but 

 few ha\'e proved of any value. Mr. P. J. Ryan, of Millbrook, an 

 enthusiast in the work, has, after years of patient work, succeeded in pro- 

 ducing a number of varieties which promise satisfactory results. They 

 are heavy croppers and have been selected for their cooking qualities. 

 Being dark-skinned, they should prove useful sorts for export. The 

 names and yields of the best varieties are as fbllow : — 



Wellington, l?^ tons. Norfolk, 12.^ tons. 



Bedford, 13 tons. Sussex, ll|tons 



Marlborougli, 13 tons. ^t. Albans, 7 tons 7 <nvt. 



The above varieties are a cross between New Zealand Pinkeye and 

 Brown's River, using the pollen of the former. Seed of all has been 

 ■supplied to the Department of Agriculture for experimental purposes, and 

 the results will be watched with interest. 



SOLANUM CoMMERSONii. — The accompai^ying illustration shows the 

 plant and t\ibers of the «S'o/a- 

 mim\ Conwiersonii, a species 

 •of " the wild potato. It 

 may? be mentioned that the 

 potato of commerce hitherto 

 grown in Australia is known as 

 Solarium tuberosvm. A shows 

 the produce of the wild plant, 

 and B a variety known as 

 Commcrsonii tnolet. 'I'his potato 

 was produced in 1901 by M. 

 Labergerie of France, and for- 

 warded in 1908 with six other 

 varieties which had been raised 

 in the same manner. It is dark 

 violet in colour, and resembles 

 the Brown's River variety. The 

 flesh is white and of fine 

 texture and good flavour. It 

 promises to be a good cropper. 

 Another important feature of 

 this variety is the hardy nature 

 of the plant ; it stands frost 

 well and has proved itself a 

 disease register. If the Blight 

 should spread in Victoria it 

 will, on that account, prove a 

 valuable addition to the varie- the wild potato. 



ties grown in this State. {Solan am Commersonii.) 



New Zealand Pinkeye. — This yariety has received considerable at- 

 tention during the jjast two- seasons. It has proved itself a useful earh 

 variety, haying a fairly hardv plant, but the tubers have two objectionable 

 features, viz., deep eyes, and, under adverse weather conditions, the 

 habit of producing hollow tubers. They are also very susceptible to scab 

 and eel worm. 



