15 :N"ov,. 1919.] Change of Seed of Potatoes. 657 



while the crop is green and growing, the seed intended for the following 

 season's planting. Seed selected in this way can be chosen from the 

 most desirable plants, i.e., those plants which are healthiest, most 

 vigorous, and producing the greatest number of marketable sized tubers. 

 It stands to reason that seed selected from such stock must produce 

 plants of more vigour than seed taken promiscuously from a heap where 

 fit and unfit are mixed. At no time other than when the plants are 

 growing can this rigorous selection of the most likely to be fit be made. 



The average grower of any quantity of potatoes may be inclined to 

 think that this care entails more trouble and cost than the crop is worth, 

 but it is not so. For those who plant large acreages each year, and who, 

 therefore, require many tons of seed, the work of selecting can be carried 

 out in the following manner: — Suppose a grower plants 50 acres of 

 potatoes yearly; that in normal seasons he gets 5 tons per acre, and 

 that he wishes to select his seed with a view to improving his stock. At 

 the rate of sowing of 12 cwt. per acre, it takes 30 tons to plant 50 acres. 

 Since 6 acres of crop, at 5 tons per acre, gives 30 tons, it follows that if 

 sufficient seed for 6 acres, viz., 3 tons 12 cwt., were rigidly selected each 

 year, and a 6-acre area planted with them, the grower would then have 

 a yearly stud plot producing tubers of a high standard sufficient to plant 

 the whole of his 50 acres. The rate of planting has been, for the j^urpose 

 of illustration, taken as 12 cwt. per acre, but this may vary according 

 to the size and the spacing of the sets. Probably the rate of production 

 of the stud plot, too, will vary, and be nearer to 10 tons, on the average, 

 than the 5 tons mentioned in the calculation. 



CURING OF LEMONS WITH VASELINE. 



A Scone orchardist, anxious to keep some of a good crop of lemons 

 for summer use, recently sought information as to the efficacy of a 

 vaseline treatment and the comparative values of curing treatments. 

 The Department's reply was a.s follows: — 



The following experiments with Washington navel oranges and lemons 

 were carried out fortnightly, commencing 14th June, 1918, and ending 

 7th August, 1918, at Yanco Experiment Farm: — 



Fruit wrapped and packed in paper-lined cases; also in sand. 



Fruit vaselined and packed in paper-lined cases; also in sand. 



Fruit unwrapped and packed in paper-lined cases ; also in sand. 



Fruit dipped in borax and packed in paper-lined cases ; also in sand. 



The results from those unwrapped and those treated with borax were 

 not satisfactory, those that had received a coating of vaseline keeping 

 best of all. The lemons so treated kept in perfect condition from June 

 to January, though it would not be advisable to store for market past 

 November on account of the deterioration of the fruit beyond this month. 



— Agricultural Gazette, !N".S.W. 



