1922.1 



Institute of Agricultural Botany 



1081 



Immunity Trials. — Almost from the time that this scourge first 

 received serious attention in England, it was noticed that 

 certain varieties were immune from its onslaughts. Mr. John 

 Snell, an Inspector of the Ministry of Agriculture, appreciated 

 the latent possibilities of this discovery, and, while stationed 

 at Ormskirk established, with purely local support, the Immu- 

 nity Trials which are now world-famed. Before his death in 

 1920 the Ministry had recognised the value of the work and 

 was providing the necessary funds. The trials had, however, 

 outgrown the famous Workhouse Ground, and were trans- 

 ferred to the 40-acre farm acquired by the Institute, where in 

 1922 they consisted of 778 stocks, occupying Sh acres divided into 

 small plots. 



After Snell 's death his original supporters, the Ormskirk 

 Potato Society, raised a fund for the perpetuation of his 

 memory; the memorial took the form of a portrait winch now 

 hangs in the Potato Testing Station, and a medal, to be 

 awarded annually to persons whose work shall have helped to 

 improve potato husbandry either by scientific, administrative or 

 commercial means. The responsibility for the award of this 

 medal has been delegated to the Institute, and the first medal 

 was awarded in December last to Mr. Ezra Miles, well known 

 for his breeding work. 



New Varieties. — In addition to the conduct of the Immunity 

 Trials, the Institute is performing another service of which 

 Snell was the originator. Annually from 1913 till his death,, a 

 report was published giving his considered opinion as to the 

 right to be considered as novelties of so-called new varieties 

 sent to the Station for Immunity Test. An Annual Beport is 

 now compiled by a Committee appointed by the Institute — 

 the Potato Synonym Committee under the chairmanship of 

 Dr. Salaman — composed of some of the greatest experts, who 

 investigate every plot grown at the Station and record their 

 decisions. The Beport, before publication, is submitted to a 

 Conference composed of leading potato raisers and merchants, 

 scientific and official members, for discussion and approval. 



Maturity Trials. — In 1921 Potato Maturity Trials were started 

 at Ormskirk with the object of establishing the time of ripening 

 of different varieties, and also of gaining information as to the 

 correct method of attacking the problem of yield testing, which, 

 with potatoes, presents such exceptional difficulties. No con- 

 clusion can yet be published, but the work is progressing satis- 

 factorily. 



