10 Aug., 1916.] Experiments in the L'ultivatton of Fotatoes. 461 



EXPERIMENTS IN THE CULTIVATION OF POTATOES, 



1915-1916. 



By J. T. Ramsay, Potato Expert. 



The following report and comment, relative to the experimental 

 work in potato cultivation conducted by the Department during the 

 season 1915-16, is submitted herewith: — These tests were carried out at 

 three different centres, viz., Leongatha, Koo-wee-roip, and Portland, and 

 were designed and undertaken with the object of getting practical 

 demonstration of the effects of varying treatments of the crop, the best 

 of which are feasible of adoption into the farm practice of growers for 

 the benefit of their soils, their crops, and their pockets. The climatic 

 conditions governing the crop of the season were extreme in their 

 variations. The genial weather experienced at planting time proved to 

 be the start of a period of drought which lasted over two months. 

 During this time the thorough preparatory and inter-cultivation which 

 was given to the "plots was severely tried in its counteraction to the 

 baneful effects of a distressing sequence of dry days which were un- 

 pleasantly and consistently favoured by an abundance of moisture- 

 stealing winds. 



This spell of drought was particularly favorable to the spread of the 

 notorious Rutherglen Bug (Ni/siiis Vinitor) which made its appearance 

 at Leongatha about the middle of January, and threatened the crop 

 with destruction. 



Fortunately its advent was noticed and steps combative to it were 

 immediately taken. Numerous smudge fires made from waste straw, 

 bagging, &c., were set burning in such positions as would allow the 

 wind to carry the smoke over the crop, and to each fire was added a 

 I'^'-dhil of sulphur. The result was effective. The whole area treated 

 was soon envelo,ped with the pungent and suffocating smoke, which had 

 the effect of either killing or driving off the insects. No further visita- 

 tion of this pest was experienced. 



Good rains fell during the third week in January, and improved the 

 aspect. The crop responded and was favoured with genial climatic 

 environment for the remainder of the maturation period. 



LEONGATHA. 



At Leongatha an area of 5^ acres was subdivided into seven sections 

 which had objectives as follows: — 



1. The effect on the crop of phosphatic, potassic, and nitrogenous 



manures in varying combinations, and at varying rat.es of 

 application per acre. 



2. The effect of dipping seed in an antisejitic solution, and spray- 



ing the crop with a fungicidal preparation, as disease 

 preventives. 



3. The effect on the yield of varying deptlis of planting the 



seed. 



4. The effect on {lie yield of varying spacings between the setii. 



5. The respective influences on the yield of immature and rij)e 



seed. 



6. The cropping capabilities of different varieties. 



7. The propagation of now varieties. 



