896 Experiments in Potato Growing. [feb., 



Star, but it was noticed that the Stars one year from Scotland 

 were relatively less vigorous than the Up-to-Date. 



Tons. Cwt. 



Old stock grown in Cambridge three years ... ... 4 15 



One year in Cambridge ... ... ... ... ... 11 16 



Fresh from Midlothian 14 8 



The proportion of chats was much higher in the produce 

 of fresh seed than in the case of the crop one year from 

 Scotland; in fact, this appears to be generally the case in 

 all varieties. 



These "change of seed" experiments were continued in 1907 

 and in 1908, and with very much the same results. Many 

 more instances of increased yield might be quoted, but one 

 further example will suffice. 



Tons. Cwt. 



Up-to-Date; third year from Cromarty yielded ... ... 7 I 



Fresh from Cromarty ... ... ... ... ... ... 11 5 



As also mentioned earlier, the second season's growth is 

 often heavier than the first (i.e., direct from Scotland), and 

 the following figures taken from the 1907 results may be 

 quoted to substantiate the statement. 



Total 

 crop. 



Variety. Tons. Cwt. 



What's Wanted. From the Lothians in 1905 ... ... 6 16 



„ 1906 8 12 



1907 ... ... 7 16 



Dalmeny Acme. From the Lothians in 1905 ... ... 10 14 



1906 11 14 



I9°7. 11 9 



Enough has been said to prove the importance of "change 

 -of seed" every second year, and the question arises, where 

 is the seed to be obtained? It was found after trying sets 

 from various parts of Scotland that any one district was not 

 always to be relied on to give the heaviest yields. It is 

 apparently a matter of season, or the conditions under which 

 the potatoes are ripened and harvested. In some years the 

 north has the advantage, and others, the south of Scotland. 



Since 1905 many comparisons of the results of using seed 

 from Ireland or from Scotland have been made on the 

 University farm, and also in Hertfordshire and in the 

 Huntingdonshire Fens. 



The general result obtained has been that seed from 

 Ireland is as good a change as seed from Scotland. In some 

 years and in some districts the crop from the Irish seed was 



