Potato Experiments in Ireland. 



505 



equalled in the competition of 1897, notwithstanding the 

 high character of many of the barleys submitted for compe- 

 tition and the steady improvement shown in the cleaning of 

 the grain. Only two English samples exceeded 60 lbs. per 

 bushel, whilst in the foreign section one sample only attained 

 to 58 lbs., and four of the exhibits fell below 49 lbs. The 

 English samples weighed ranged from 54 to 61 lbs., whilst 

 the foreign samples weighed between 49 and 59 lbs. 



As regards the date of sowing, it is stated in the report 

 that notwithstanding the extremely unfavourable conditions 

 prevailing throughout February, the largest number of 

 samples entered was sown in the fourth week of that month, 

 and attention is again called to the fact that no prize fell to 

 any barley sown after the commencement of April. 



The date of harvesting, although not quite so early as in 

 1 896, is reported to have shown very clearly the effect of rain 

 upon the condition of barley samples, for while nearly half 

 of the samples cut in the first and second weeks of August 

 obtained prizes not a single sample cut in the third week 

 obtained any commendation. 



A prize was offered by the directors of the exhibition for 

 the most instructive collection of samples of barley judged 

 unfit for malting. This competition was confined to agri- 

 cultural colleges, and full entries in this class would, it is 

 believed, have great educational value ; but the judges regret 

 that no exhibits of defective grain were entered by any 

 agricultural jcollege. 



Experiments in Potato Cultivation in Ireland. 



The sixth annual report of the Irish Congested Districts 

 Board contains an account of experiments made in 1897 to 

 test the relative merits of different kinds of potatoes, with a 

 view to obtain varieties suitable to take the place of the 

 Champion for a portion of the crop. 



Experiments with eleven varieties were conducted on 

 ninety-seven experimental plots : nine were grown on all the 



