REPORT ON FOTATOS AT CHISWICK, 1902. 



653 



REPORT ON POTATOS AT CHISWICK, 1902. 



Thirty-five stocks of Potatos were sent for trial, and thirty well-proved 

 varieties were grown side by side for comparison. The whole collection 

 was planted on April 1, in rows three feet apart, the "sets" being 

 eighteen inches apart in the rows, on ground that had been ridge - 

 trenched the previous autumn. A good dressing of decayed manure and 

 burnt garden refuse was incorporated when trenching. The season was a 

 very poor one for Potatos, as all the stocks were " cut" by frost in the 

 middle of May, followed by a wet, cold summer, causing more disease to 

 appear than for a number of years past ; but in spite of these drawbacks, 

 the majority of the varieties made excellent growth, and produced good 

 crops, in many instances free from disease. The Fruit and Vegetable 

 Committee examined the collection on three occasions, and they decided 

 that the value of the trial would be greatly enhanced if the best late 

 varieties were kept until December 5, and then cooked, after being stored 

 about two months, which was done. The following varieties, by reason 

 of their heavy crop and good appearance, were selected for cooking to 

 test their quality, viz. : — 



Alderman Northumbria 



Brydon's Crompton Pioneer Earliest 



Commonwealth Professor Walker 



Dalmeny Beauty Shamrock II. 



Dobbie's Favourite Snowdrop 



Earl Roberts Snowdrop Improved 



Henry Fincham Springfield 



New Century The Marfield 

 Victoria Improved. 



F.C.C. = First-class Certificate. 

 A.M. = Award of Merit. 



1. Alderman (Sharpe). — Flattish round ; white ; eyes shallow ; hand- 

 some ; moderate size ; very heavy crop, free from disease ; haulm moderate 

 and sturdy. Mid-season. A very promising variety. 



2. British Premier (Lister). — Round; pink; eyes deep; very large 

 and coarse ; heavy crop, slightly diseased ; haulm moderate and sturdy. 

 Mid-season or late. 



3. Brydon's Crompton (Kent & Brydon). — Round ; white ; eyes full ; 

 moderate size ; good crop, much diseased ; haulm moderate and sturdy. 

 Mid-season or late. 



4. Chester Favourite (Dicksons). — Round ; white ; russety ; good 

 shape ; eyes shallow ; medium size ; heavy crop, free from disease ; tall, 

 strong haulm. Mid-season or late. 



5. Commonwealth, A.M. September 12, 1902 (Scammell).— Flattish 

 round ; white ; russety ; handsome ; medium size ; eyes shallow ; great 

 crop, free from disease ; moderate haulm. Mid-season or late. 



