3i2 Summary of Agricultural Experiments, [july, 



the widely different results given by " seed " of the same variety from 

 different districts. The weights of the crops in those years are given. 



An experiment to compare the crop from "seed" of different sizes 

 and frQm cut sets has been carried out during the last three years. 

 Three sizes of seed were used, viz. : — (i) seed dressed over a i| in. 

 and through a if in. riddle; quantity required to plant an acre, 18 cwt. ; 

 (2) seed dressed over a if in. and through a i\ in. riddle; quantity 

 required to plant an acre, 1 ton 11 cwt. 98 lb.; (3) cut seed; quantity 

 required to plant an acre, 18 cwt. 42 lb. The "sets" were in all cases 

 placed 14 in. apart in the rows, so that approximately the same number 

 of sets was planted in each plot. 



The weight of marketable potatoes per acre produced by each, 

 taking the average of the three years, was : — Small seed, 11 tons 

 1 cwt. ; large seed, 13 tons ; cut seed, 12 tons 5 cwt. 



An experiment on the effect of planting potatoes at different dis- 

 tances apart in the rows was also made for the third time in 1909. 

 The potatoes were passed over a \\ in. and through a i| in. riddle, 

 and were planted at distances of 12, 15, and 18 in. apart in the rows. 

 The rows were 26 in. apart in 1907, and 28 in. in 1908 and 1909. The 

 average crops of marketable potatoes per acre were as follows : — 

 Planted 12 in. apart, 13 tons 7 cwt. ; 15 in. apart, 13 tons 5 cwt. ; 

 18 in. apart 11 tons 19 cwt. It seems fairly evident from the results 

 of each year as well as from the averages that there is a loss of yield 

 from planting potatoes as far apart in the rows as 18 in. 



The loss of weight that may be expected to take place in potatoes 

 stored during the winter was tested. Four tons of potatoes were sorted 

 and stored on November 1st in a pit covered with straw and soil in 

 the usual way. On March 19th the potatoes were taken from the 

 pit and weighed, with the following result : — Good potatoes, 3 tons 

 10 cwt. 72 lb. ; bad potatoes, 7 cwt. 76 lb. ; the loss of weight, apart 

 from decay and disease, being 1 cwt. 76 lb. This would probably be 

 much greater if the potatoes were stored in any other way than in 

 pits. The loss from disease will always vary with the season. 



Varieties of Potatoes (Univ. Coll. of N. Wales, Bangor, Bull. 12, 

 1909). — Sixteen varieties of potatoes were grown in 1909. The varieties 

 of the Up-to-Date type, many of which are very much alike, were by 

 far the best croppers. Northern Star did not yield so well as many of 

 the others, but was practically free from disease, and kept its condition 

 well when stored. The best yields, excluding diseased potatoes, were 

 given by Dalhousie, 20 tons 18 cwt. ; Dalmeny Beauty, 20 tons 8 cwt. ; 

 Up-to-Date, 19 tons 16 cwt. ; and Mayfield Blossom, 19 tons 14 cwt. 

 A report on the cooking quality of each variety is given in the report, 

 and of the four mentioned Dalmeny Beauty appeared to be the best 

 in this respect. 



Manuring of Potatoes (Univ. Coll. of N. Wales, Bangor, Bull. 3, 

 1909). — This experiment has been carried out on six farms in North 

 Wales in 1908 and 1909, and the average results for the two years are 

 given. The crop of marketable potatoes without manure was 4 tons 

 13 cwt. Ten tons of farmyard manure per acre produced an 

 increase of nearly 3 tons per acre, while an additional 10 tons pro- 

 duced a further increase of 23 cwt. per acre, which would not pay the 

 cost of the extra manuring. When a dressing (which cost 525.) of 202 lb. 



