352 



Eeport on Potato Trials, 1920. 



[July, 



qualities of certain early varieties. It must be realised that 

 certain varieties are grown and marketed as earlies, v^hich are 

 not really earlies, if regarded from the point of viev^ of 

 maturity. " Epicure " is a good example of this. It is a 

 variety which " bulks " quickly, and can be marketed early; 

 yet, if judged by its date of maturity, it is a second early. 

 The same remark applies to " Eclipse " and " Sir John 

 Llewellyn." 



It has been frequently stated that " King George," if well 

 grown, will be ready for lifting quite as soon as " Epicure." 

 Last season, in many districts, " Arran Comrade " matured 

 earlier than " Epicure." It is, therefore, of the greatest 

 importance that this problem of earliness should be tested in 

 a thorough manner in all these districts where early potatoes 

 are grown. 



Note. — The Trials of Early Varieties are for the express pur- 

 pose of comparing the earliness of some particular varieties. 

 To obtain reliable results it is obvious that the seed of the 

 many kinds must all come from the same source, be treated in 

 a similar way, planted on the same date, and the crop 

 given equal opportunities for development. It has been 

 indicated before that it is not merely the determination of a 

 date when the crop matures, but of a period when the crop 

 may be profitably marketed. This is a point that should be 

 well considered. 



The instructions regarding supply of seed, manuring, &c., 

 are the same as for the cropping trials. 



Varieties as Controls for 1920. — Three of the leading well- 

 known susceptible first earlies, " Duke of York," " Ninety- 

 fold " and " Epicure," should be grown as controls with 

 which the new varieties may be compared. These new 

 varieties are Dargill Early, Arran Rose, King George, Niths- 

 dale, Arran Comrade, Snowdrop. 



Planting .—The time of planting will vary sUghtly according 

 to the district. The trials -should be planted at what is con- 

 sidered a suitable time for planting potatoes in the district. 

 It is suggested that a distance of 26 inches between the drills 

 and 12 inches between the sets should be adopted throughout 

 all the trials. Any departure from these distances should be 

 noted in the reports of the trials. 



, Reports. — It is suggested that Committee will prepare a full 

 report of the trials for the benefit of farmers and allotment 

 holders. The Ministry will also require a brief report drawn 



