1922.] 



Trials ok Potatoes, L92] . 



L67 



most of the crops were left in the ground until they had fully 

 matured instead of being lifted as was originally contemplated. 

 The earliest lifting took place in East Sussex, where '* Arran 

 Rose " from sprouted seed was harvested on the 8th June and 

 realised 21s. per cwt., as compared with 18s. per cwt. for the 

 produce of unsprouted seed of the same variety lifted three weeks 

 later. The difference in the period of lifting of the sprouted and 

 unsprouted seed of the other varieties varied from 12 to 22 days 

 in favour of the sprouted seed. 



The information supplied regarding market prices was* how- 

 ever, interesting as showing that the date of lifting had not such 

 a marked effect on early potatoes in 1921, as would probably be 

 the case in normal seasons. There was a decided stiffening in 

 prices after the very early districts of the country had been 

 cleared and it seemed probable that there would be a serious 

 shortage of potatoes, as second earlies were late in maturing 

 and growers were anxious to leave them in the ground as long 

 as possible. The effect on the prices realised by first earlies is 

 illustrated in the returns obtained in Devonshire where crops 

 lifted late made more money than those marketed from Kent 

 three w r eeks earlier. For instance " Epicure " lifted in Devon 

 on the 30th July made lGs. 3d. per cwt. w T hile the same variety 

 lifted in Kent on the f>th July made only 9s. per cwt. 



Sprouted and Unsprouted Seed. — Experiments with sprouted 

 and unsprouted sets were carried out at twelve centres. Al- 

 though in two cases the unsprouted sets produced slightly better 

 crops than the sprouted, the general weight of evidence is de- 

 cidedly in favour of using sprouted sets. The average yield of 

 the sprouted sets for the twelve centres exceeded the average 

 yield from the unsprouted sets by 1 ton 16 cwt. per acre. 

 Not only did the former materially increase the crop (see 

 Table III), but the maturity of the crop was hastened. Thus 

 there is a dual advantage in favour of sprouting. 



Table I IT. — Statement showing the average Rate of Yield per acre 

 obtained with "Sprouted" and " Unsprouted" sets at 12 centres 

 in Kent and East Sussex. 



Variety. 



Sprouted, 

 tons. cwt. 



rnsproutcd. 

 tons. cwt. 



Kent 



Epicure ... 

 Ninetyfold 

 Dargill Early 

 Arran Rose 

 Ashleaf ... 



3 

 2 



3 



1 1 



6 



9 



3 



17 



1 I 



3 



Snowdrop 



I 



I 



