1920.] 



Potato Growing. 



35 



Exports of Manures Manufactured in the United Kingdom. 



Description. 





Quantity. 



Value. 





















1919. 



1918. 



1913- 



1919. 



1918. 



1913. 







tons. 



tons. 



tons. 



£ 



£ 



£ 



Sulphate of ammonia 





94,435 





323,054 



2,267,474 



480,744 



4,390,547 



Superphosphates . . 





4,026 



2,547 



63,480 



38,581 



16,421 



1 66,314 







13.699 



1,065 



165,100 



54,802 



3,638 



261,972 







40,904 



37,3 2 7 



152,437 



574,160 



420,216 



926.656 



* 



* 



* 



* 



* 



* 





The Need of Increased Production. — In view of the shortage 

 of potatoes it is earnestly to be hoped that a greater area will 



be planted this year than was the case 

 Potato Growing. . t> ^ L j 



m 1919. Potatoes, doubtless, are an ex- 

 pensive crop to grow. They play, however, such an important 

 role on the farm and in the national economy that it behoves 

 all with facilities for the purpose to produce at least their own 

 requirements. In addition, they should endeavour to raise 

 sufficient to meet the needs of those whose circumstances 

 compel them to look to the market for their supplies. 



At the present time, when much of the land has become 

 impoverished and foul as a result of war-time cropping, the 

 potato crop offers both a means of cleaning the land effectively 

 and of restoring its fertility. Even some of the heavier lands, 

 not generally regarded as suitable for potatoes, work fairly 

 freely, while the residues from the old grass turf remain. 



It is, further, a point worth considering whether even a small 

 crop, combined with all the advantages and effects of a fallow, 

 is not more profitable than allowing the land to be bare for the 

 purposes of cleaning. 



The main essentials for success in potato growing are : — 



(1) the use of good " seed," preferably not more than 



" once grown," from Scotland ; 



(2) adequate manuring; 



(3) early planting. 



1. As regards " seed," varieties immune from Wart Disease 

 should be largely planted even in districts where this disease 

 has not appeared. The results of numerous experiments show 

 that from the list of immune varieties a selection may be made 

 of kinds to suit both the grower and the consumer. 



2. Potatoes repay liberal manuring. An average dressing 

 is 10 to 15 tons of dung, 1 to i\ cwt. of sulphate of ammonia, 



D 2 



