.1921.] 



Report on Potato Trials, 1920. 



B51 



potatoes in their respective areas on the lines laid down in the 

 scheme, the details of which were ^iven as follows : — 



Ministry's Scheme for Potato Demonstration Plots, 1920. — 



The main objects of the scheme are lor the purposes of: — 



(a) Finding out those varieties best suited to the different 

 districts ; 



(b) Demonstrating approved methods of potato culture. 

 Wart Disease. — The Ministry requires the planting of 



immune varieties in those areas in which Wart Disease is 

 known to be common and widespread, and in such areas 

 Committees should use immune varieties only for their trials : 

 whilst Committees in the " clean " districts should demon- 

 strate the value of these immune varieties, and test their com- 

 parative merits with well-known susceptible kinds. 



Supph/ of Seed. — The source of the seed potato influences 

 the resultant crop to such an extent that all the seed should 

 be obtained from the same source. It is advisable, therefore, 

 that the seed, which will be Scotch Seed, should be purchased 

 in bulk l)y the Ministry* and distributed to the various Com- 

 mittees. The seed potatoes will be invoiced at cost price to, 

 the Committees. 



Quarjtitij of Seed. — In carrying out these trials 11 lb. of 

 each variety should be planted on land, w^hich has been 

 prepared according to the instructions given below. 



Manures. — The land should receive farmyard manure at the 

 rate of 15 — 20 tons per acre, and, preferably, to be applied in 

 the drills at the time of planting; and artificials at the rate 

 of:— 



Superphosphate (2G per cent.) 4^, cwt. per acre. 



Sulphate of Ammonia ... ... ... ... 1 „ 



Sulphate of Potash ... ... ... ... 1 „ „ „ 



Varieties. — The trials should be divided into two main 

 sections : 

 Part 1. 



Demonstration of the cropping powers of the well-known 

 immune kinds such as Great Scott, Arran Com.rade, Majestic, 

 Kerr's Pink, Golden Wonder, Tinwald's Perfection and 

 Favourite. 



Part 2. 



EarJj/ Varietj/ Trials. — It is considered to be important 

 to institute trials to test the earliness and cropping 



♦ Later it was found to be more practicable to iiulicate sources of supply 

 to County Committees. 



