904 



The Production of Seed Potatoes. 



[Jan., 



Particulars of Districts.— For convenience, Cumberland may 

 be divided into four districts, " A," " B," " C " and " D/' 

 There is only a small area in Westmorland suitable for potato 

 growing, and that is included in District A. The observation 

 stations from which the meteorological records have been taken 

 are as follows : — 



District •' A "* Xewton Rigg, 559 ft. above sea level. 

 „ -'B'" Scaleby (east), 111 ft. „ 

 „ C " Aspatria (west), 487 ft. „ 



,, D'' Braystones (for rainfall only), 50 ft. above sea level. 



District " .4 " is bounded on the no-tli by the Oarlisle-Nevvcastle railway, 

 on the south by the Clifton- Appleby-Kirkby Stephen railway, on the east by 

 the Pennine Range and on the west by the Carlisle-Penrith-Clifton railway. 

 The soil is a loam to light loam. The formation in the east is Kirklinton and 

 St. Bees sandstone and in the west sandstone and breccia. 



The highest aUitude at which potatoes are grown is 950 ft. and the lowest 

 300 ft. above sea level, the average being 450 ft. This is probably the best 

 district in England for growing seed potatoes, as the soil and climatic 

 conditions are uniform throughout. The conditions at Newton Rigg, the 

 observation station, though just outside the boundary, are typical of the 

 district. 



District " B" is bounded on the north by the Scottish border; on the south 

 by the Maryport-Carlisle-Newcastle railway; on the east l)y the Northumber- 

 land border and on the west by the Solway Firth. 



The soil varies from light loam on the sandstone, alluvial on the alluvium, 

 to heavy loam on the Keuper Marl and lower lias. The formation in the east 

 is Kirklinton and St. Bees sandstone, in the west Keuper Marl, and on the 

 coast alluvium. 



The highest altitude at which potatoes are grown is 750 ft. above, and the 

 lowest at sea level, the average being 200 ft. This district is nearly as 

 suitable for potato growing as district "A," but there is a greater variety of 

 soil and the climatic conditions are not so uniform. 



District " C"' is bounded on the north by the Maryport-Carlisle-Newcastle 

 railway ; on the south by the Penrith-Penruddock railway ; on the east by the 

 Carlisle-Penrith-Clifton railway and on the west by the Fell country. 



The soil is a heavy loam, and the formation is of a limestone series. The 

 highest altitude at which potatoes are grown is 800 ft., and the lowest 350 ft. 

 above sea level, and the average 400 ft. This district is mostly laid down 

 to grass, and therefore only small crops of potatoes are grown. 



District '* D is bounded on the north by the Whitehaven-Cleator Moor 

 road, by the Duddon Sands on the south, the Fell country on the east and by 

 the sea on the west. 



The soil is light loam running to sand on the coast hne. The formation 

 is Kirklinton and St. Bees sandstone. The highest altitude at which potatoes 

 are grown is 400 ft., and the lowest at sea level, the average being 50 ft. 

 This district is on the Cumberland coast and is suitable for the cultivation of 

 early varieties of potatoes. 



* The altitudes and soil formations are taken from the Ordnance Survey. 



