73 



In a recent publication, " Manuring with Brains," it is,; however, 

 claimed that potash in the form of kainit is invaluable for preventing 

 " scab " and " sprain " in potatoes. Sprain manifests itself by black 

 bands through the tubers, which render them unsaleable. Mr. A. C. 

 Brown, Pinkie Mains, Musselburgh, pioneer of early potato growing on 

 the East Coast, could only prevent the above diseases by applying an 

 annual dressing in early winter of 5 cwt. per acre of kainit, and he has, 

 in fact, grown potatoes five years in succession on the same field. 

 While scab is a great source of loss throughout Great Britain, sprain is 

 most prevalent in the eastern midland counties of Scotland ; but those 

 growers who regularly apply a liberal dressing of kainit enjoy an 

 enviable immunity from both diseases. It is little use to apply kainit 

 in spring, and much better results are on light land than on heavy. 

 Professor Campbell, of Yorkshire, says : =-" The necessity of using 

 potash for potatoes has been forcibly demonstrated." 



In the United States potatoes grown in Colorado are known as 

 perfection, but the planting of land previous under lucerne is partly 

 responsible for this. 



Very few reports for Australia are recorded of crops obtained, 

 and hardly any stating what kind of manure was applied. Mr. T. 0. 

 Ruwoldt, of Mount Gambier (31.82 in.), used in 1898 1 cwt. of bone- 

 dust p3r acre to wheat, and planted in 1899 potatoes without 

 more manure, which yielded him 6 tons, against 8 tons, and a. not 

 profit of 1/15/ where he applied 5 cwt. of bonedust. It is stated 

 that experiments where potatoes were manured under, or at the sides, 

 tdve a far heavier crop, and contain more starch than where the 

 manure was mixed with the whole of the soil. It is satisfactory 

 to know that a larger area has been planted in 1899, viz., 8,406 

 acres, from which 19,716 tons were gathered, against 6,653 acres and 

 11.445 tons in 1898. New Zealand had in 1898 38.604 acres under 

 potatoes, yielding an average of 4.95 tons, but in 1899 7.73 tons on 

 22.593 more acres. Near Invercargill, N.Z., there were many sorts 

 planted in 1899 in good garden soil merely with rotten stable dung, 

 the season being very good. Many varieties gave from 10 to 

 17 tons per acre. White Elephant gave 26 tons, Early 

 Regent the same, Bruce 23 tons, Early Rose 24 tons ; but it must 

 be remembered that the rainf&jUj was very evenly distributed 

 through the year, with a temperature varying from 40 deg. in winter 

 to 70 deg. in summer. At the Experimental Farm at Momohaki, 

 N.Z., commercial manures alone were; used') with the Early Rose- 

 variety, and 3J cwt. superphosphate gave 7 tons 8 cwt. 1 qr. 13 Ib. 

 per acre ; 3 A cwt. Thomas phosphate, 7 tons 14 cwt. 1 qr. 21 Ib. No 

 nitrogenous or potassic fertiliser was used with the phosphates, only 

 some commercial mixtures that yielded less except a root manure, 

 which produced 7 tons 16 cwt. 3 qr. 18 Ib. Experiments! on 51 

 plots at-Wyiidham, N.Z., yielded but little better results on account 

 of a flooding and severe frost. Four hundredweight of bonedust 

 and 2 cwt. of Thomas phosphate gave 9 tons; 3 cwt. bonedust and 

 3 cwt. kainit, 9 tons 8 cwt. 



