842 



Superphosphate : Plentiful Supplies. [Dec, 



curl or mosaic were removed under the supervision of one of 

 the Ministry's experts. It is believed that the resulting seed is 

 pure and healthy. 



In cases where seed potatoes have been saved from the 

 Ministry's trials in 1921, it is suggested that some be planted 

 in 1922, so that trials can be made in order to compare the 

 cropping qualities of this " once grown " English seed with those 

 of seed of the same varieties direct from Scotland. The con- 

 ditions under which both trials are made should, so far as 

 possible, be uniform. If seed is saved from both crops in 1922. 

 it should be possible in 1923 to carry the comparison still further 

 and to compare the cropping qualities of Scottish seed with those 

 of English ' 'once grown " and English " twice grown 99 seed. 



Quantity of Seed. — It appears generally convenient in these 

 trials to use 28 lb. of each variety, and Authorities are asked not 

 to make any alteration except for some special reason. 



Manures. — The manurial treatment recommended for potatoes 



is that the land should receive a dressing of farmyard manure 



at the rate of about 15 tons per acre, applied in autumn, or, 



in the Northern districts, in the drills at the time of planting. 



Artificial manures should also be applied on dates to be recorded, 



in quantities somewhat as follows : — 



Superphosnhate C30 per cent.) ... ... 4 cwt. per acre. 



Sulphate of -A inmonia ... ... ... 1 „ ,, 



Sulphate of Potash (50 per cent. Potash) ... 1 ,, „ 



Tt is hoped that the trials will be carried out on uniform lines, 

 since any deviation in manuring would somewhat influence the 

 results; Authorities are therefore asked to adhere as closely as 

 possible to the conditions set out. 



Planting. — The time of planting will vary slightly according 

 to the district, the usual time of planting in the district being 

 adopted. It is further suggested that a distance of 30 in. between 

 the drills, and 3 2 in. between the sets, should be maintained 

 throughout all the trials. Any departure from these distances 

 should be noted in the records of the trials. 



****** 



During the early part of the autumn of 1920, the demands 

 for phosphate for agricultural purposes appeared to be far in 

 excess of the supply, and there was a 

 Superphosphate: ct that this serious sho rtage would 



1 1 i hi PP continue. The position, however; rapidly 

 Available. c h ange d in January. February and March, 

 1921, and during the spring large quantities of phosphate con- 



