1909.] The Potato Trade of Lincolnshire. 157 



pronounced. Its addition to foods tends to derange metabolism, disturb 

 the normal functions, and produce irritation and undue stimulation of 

 the secretory activities. Its use, therefore, is never justifiable. 



Potato Trials in Germany (Zeit. fiir Spiritusindustrie, Ergdnzungs- 

 heft, 1909). — This publication contains the report of Prof, von Ecken- 

 brecher on the trials carried out by the German potato culture stations 

 in 1908. These experiments, which have been made annually since 1888, 

 are intended to test the value of different varieties of potato. They 

 were carried out in 1908 at 27 different centres distributed throughout 

 Germany. Full particulars are given of the yield of each variety during 

 the past 20 years, together with their starch content and yield, and 

 observations on the prevalence of disease in the past year. The report 

 also contains the results of the tests of 129 varieties made at the seed- 

 testing station at Kloster Hadmersleben. 



Experiments with Hot Water as an Insecticide (Beobachtungen und 

 Versuche betreffend die Reblaus. Arbeit. K. Biol. Anstalt fiir Land- und 

 Forst-wirtschaft, Band 6, Heft 5, 1908). — These experiments were 

 carried out for the purpose of testing the value of hot water for the 

 disinfection of vines affected with Phylloxera vastatrix. Vines were 

 placed in water at various temperatures and for various periods, and 

 it appeared that immersion in water at a temperature of 140 0 F. (6o° C.) 

 for half an hour killed the insect in all its stages, including the eggs. 

 The same result was obtained when the period of immersion was re- 

 spectively 10 and 5 minutes, and even when reduced to one minute. 

 A temperature below 115 0 F., however, was ineffective, and even at 

 temperatures somewhat above this the results were doubtful. 



THE POTATO TRADE OF LINCOLNSHIRE IN 1908-9. 



H. Amos. 



The disappointment of the season, from an agricultural point of 

 view, has undoubtedly lain in the potato trade. In January, 1908, 

 Up-to-Dates were worth ^5 per ton on the London markets, and they 

 rose steadily until May, when they touched 10s. and ^6, so that 

 growers who had any left to sell in the spring were able to make 

 excellent prices. The advent of the new crop of First Earlies, however, 

 soon brought a reduction, and prices for English produce gradually 

 got to 90s. per ton. Early in August, Puritans and Sharpe's Express 

 were quoted in London at 755. per ton. By the end of the month they 

 dropped to 605.-555., and when Up-to-Dates and Kidneys supplanted 

 them, the latter ruled at the same figure until the end of September, 

 when they fell to 555., or just over half the May quotations; from the 

 end of September to January 1st, 1909, they never got beyond 655., and 

 were a very slow trade at that, even with almost perfect samples ; from 

 January to the end of March prices in many cases fell as low as 505. for 

 Up-to-Dates, while for other varieties, such as Royal Kidney, Ever- 

 good, Lupitz, Silicieus, and Northern Star, customers have been very 

 hard to find. 



Export to America. — During this time several London salesmen 

 have bought large quantities of medium-class produce, such as Royal 

 Kidneys, Evergoods, and Lupitz, at 305. per ton and upwards, espe- 

 cially in the Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire districts, for export to 



