36 ALLOTMENT GARDENS 



This shows the necessity of having in each field of 

 allotments a trial plot, with a view of finding out the 

 most suitable varieties of potatoes and other vegetables 

 for that particular locality. 



The varieties which were grown on a heavy loam with 

 a clayey subsoil, and which yielded from 10J lb. of seed 

 tubers planted a crop of 7 bushels weighing 392 lb. from 

 one pole of ground, with very few small or diseased 

 tubers, were Harbinger, Eclipse, and Reliance. 



On a sandy loam with a gravelly subsoil similar 

 results have been got with Button's Seedling, Acquisi- 

 tion, Edinburgh Castle, and Satisfaction varieties of 

 potatoes. 



The following is a description of the way in which we 

 got 7 bushels of potatoes from one pole of ground in 

 1916: 



The potatoes bought for planting were guaranteed 

 Scotch grown, and were specially grown for seed 

 purposes. 



The price paid for them was from one to two shillings 

 a gallon (weighing 7 ft).). The potatoes were got in 

 January, and as soon as they arrived they were un- 

 packed and set out in shallow boxes with the * rose ' or 

 ' crown ' end upwards, and placed, till the time for 

 planting, in a well-lighted, airy, and frost-proof room. 



A weekly inspection of the boxes was made, with a 

 view of taking out and burning unsound tubers, if any 

 showed signs of decay, and also, if necessary, of changing 

 the positions of the boxes so as to get a uniform growth 

 of sturdy and well-coloured shoots on all the tubers. 



The tubers, weighing from 1 to 2 oz. each, were only 

 allowed to develop two shoots each, whilst the tubers 

 weighing over 2 oz. were allowed to develop three 



