958 



Potato Growing. 



[Jan., 



POTATO GROWING. 



Potato Demonstration Plots, 1921. — In viev^ of the importance 

 of the potato crop on both farms and allotment gardens, it is 

 desirable that potato growers should be able to obtain adequate 

 and reliable information on all matters relating to potato culture, 

 many phases of which may best be brought to their notice through 

 the medium of demonstration plots. Further, the spread of Wart 

 Disease throughout the country, and its effects on the potato 

 crop, render it important that the qualities of the most 

 promising of the varieties which are immune from this disease 

 should be demonstrated to growers. The Ministry, therefore, 

 suggests that potato demonstration plots should be set up 

 throughout the country in 1921 for the purpose of ascertaining 

 those immune varieties best suited to different districts, and 

 also to demonstrate the approved methods of potato culture. 

 County authorities responsible for horticultural education have 

 accordingly been asked to institute demonstration plots in the 

 different districts within their area on the lines stated below. 



Varieties. — It is proposed that the trials in 1921 should be 

 divided into two main sections: — (1) trials of first early 

 varieties, and (2) trials of second early and main crop varieties. 

 The second early and main crop varieties chosen for demonstra- 

 tion are: — Ally, Arran Comrade, Early Market, Great Scot, 

 King George, Kerr's Pink, Lochar, Majestic and Tinwald 

 Perfection. 



Supply of Seed. — It has been decided for various reasons that 

 it would be advisable to obtain all the seed used in these 

 demonstrations from the same source, and the Ministry has 

 accordingly made arrangements with a Scottish seed potato 

 merchant to reserve a quantity of seed potatoes of the trial 

 varieties for planting in the demonstration plots in 1921. 



Quantity of Seed. — 28 lb. of each of the above varieties will 

 be planted on land which has been prepared according to the 

 instructions eiven below. 



< Manures. — The land should receive a dressing of farmyard 

 manure at the rate of 15-20 tons per acre, applied in the drills 

 at the time of planting. Artificial manures should also be 

 apphed, on dates to be recorded, in quantities somewhat as 

 follows : — 



Superphosphate (26 per cent.) - - U cwt. per acre 

 Sulphate of Anunonia - - - - 1 cwt. per acre 

 Sulphate of Potash . . - - 1 cwt. per acre 



