158 The Potato Trade of Lincolnshire. [may, 



America. Large supplies have also gone from Scotland, and many 

 thousands of tons in all have been sent to America. The expenses 

 on these potatoes are very heavy, viz. : Carriage from Lincolnshire 

 and Cambridgeshire to Tilbury, Ss. per ton ; dock dues, 15. ; 



freight, 10s. ; and duty into America, 385. ^d. per ton. Bags are un- 

 returnable; this adds ys. per ton, and commission 105., not counting 

 the risk of frost and shrinkage. This trade has been of great service 

 to growers, as, although prices have been low, it has helped to clear 

 thousands of tons at 305. and over, whereas if all had been sent to the 

 London and other markets much lower prices would have resulted, 

 while a good many clamps of potatoes would never have been cleared. 



Prevalence of Low Prices. — Nearly all districts where potatoes are 

 grown have suffered this season on account of the bad prices. Crops 

 everywhere were extremely heavy, though in some places " blight " 

 was prevalent, but, speaking generally, the tonnage was greater than 

 has been the case for some years, and it was the general opinion that 

 many hundreds of tons would not be sold by the end of the season. 

 In the Lincolnshire district, where very large quantities of " Ware " 

 are grown, it is many years since potatoes have been so difficult 

 to sell. Most of the counties throughout the United Kingdom where 

 potatoes are grown have been also oversupplied with local produce. 

 During the past month, however, it has been realised that stocks were 

 materially reduced, and buyers, instead of being able to purchase easily 

 a thousand tons of " Ware," find it extremely difficult to find a hundred 

 tons, while growers could now sell any sort at 45s. to 505. per ton. 

 There is promise, therefore, of a satisfactory finish to a most unsatis- 

 factory season. 



Notes on Varieties. — Throughout the season the favourite potato has 

 (been the Up-to-Date, and, both in cooking qualities and appearance, 

 it has been hard to beat. Its one great fault is its liability to disease. 



The nearest approach to the Up-to-Date is a potato called " The 

 President." It is a good cropper, and grows a fine oval sample with 

 russet skin, and is one of the most disease-resisting potatoes in culti- 

 vation. It was raised in Holland in 1901 from two German varieties. 

 Until now this potato has mainly been grown on peat and sand, but 

 in the spring of 1907 a few were planted in clay or loam with success. 

 It is said that those farmers who tried them intend to replant the 

 whole of last season's growth. It appears to be one of the safest 

 varieties to grow, and it is certainly a long way in front of Evergood 

 and Royal Kidney, both in crop and quality, and is quite as free from 

 disease. It has the vigour and quality of the Up-to-Date, and is 

 equally good in sample, I have seen several excellent crops in the 

 district of Chatteris and Ramsey St. Mary, which were an excellent 

 sample, and sold very freely. 



One very seldom hears much of the old Garton, which years ago 

 was a prime favourite. Very few are grown nowadays, though there 

 are a few districts where it is favoured, such as the Thorney estate. 

 In one part of the estate, Gartons are grown with excellent results. 

 It is, however, a variety that does not suit every place. 



Various districts have their own favourite potato; for example, the 

 Doncaster and Goole districts prefer " King Edward VII." before any- 

 thing else, and large crops are grown there on the warp lands. 



Among First Earlies may be mentioned " Duke of York," which is 



