344 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Max, 1900. 
idea of the tests was to ascertain which form of phosphate was best for this 
particular locality, and also to note the effects of nitrogen and potash bo 
given in addition to the phosphate. The largest return was obtained ro 
plot manured with 6 lb. bonedust, the yield being 112 lb. The plot mant ' 
with 3 lb. bonedust, 24 Ib. of super., 2 lb. nitrate of soda, and 14 Ib. mune 
potash, yielded 109 Ib. ; while the plot receiving 6 Ib. of bonedust and ta 
muriate of potash yielded 100 1b. When both quality and quantity were 4X 
into account, the two latter were decidedly superior to the plot manured W™ | 
bonedust alone. ‘ 
Mr. J. Jacobs, of Mount Schanck School, carried out tests in manurines | 
and with new varieties of potatoes raised from setts imported by the Charm | 
of Central Bureau (Mr. F. Krichauff) from Germany. Here again condition’ | 
were against a satisfactory test, the plants being cut two or three times i 
frost; once, when about 9 inches high, they were cut right down. The 80 | 
strongly voleanic at the foot of Mount Schanck, is extremely light, loose, oat ! 
dry, and being low is also very frosty. The plots were small, and half rece j 
manure at rate of 600 Ib. super. and 200 lb. sulphate of ammonia pet 80) J 
besides a good dressing of wood ashes. ‘The setts were planted on 25th Aug’ | A 
and dug on 5th March. ‘The following table shows the results, the manu" 
plot in each case being marked F :— 
Weight ste Small Potatoes. 
Variety. ; of Remarks. 
A ae oe ia nee 
Per Plot. per Acre, | Per Plot. per INGA), | 
Ss ee ied ' 
Lb Lb. Tons. Lb. Tons. nice | 
Fyth—F 3 3 185 4 a Pink skin, Vey oy | 
p pitt Berta 2 154 43 277 |§ shape, butstrazes 4 
Prof. Maercker—F ... 53 3°96 it 0°72 ‘ ' | 
Dittor armel oe anette madi titmeo gan | a ig | { White potate 
Wohltmann—F it 8 4:93 3 1°84 \ Pintle 
sete at 1 7 ae 4 2°16 t 
Corn—H 9 Ba505 3 2°52 : 
spite g my | so i Sin | f White. my 
thlers—F 1 9 7°99 13 0°43 * I. 
mitten. t 8 a6 1 O72 |f White, very 8 
iele— aS sear oa 102 3°63, 1 071 ' 
Ditto Rey eee s aser i 6 3°07 1 071 ; WAKE satel’ 
Gratia—F 2 6 4°32 5 3°6 ; Pink, roots | 
Ditto... g 4 2°88 3h 2°52 sected. 
| 
} 
ALE OPEERTEEEE: 0° 
It will be noticed that in every case the fertilised plots yielded Ri | 
marketable potatoes than the unmanured, while the proportion of small te ib. 
was less. Taking the total of the whole plots, those fertilised yielde oie 
good potatoes and 18 lb. small, against 35 1b. good and 183 1b. small from 
plots not fertilised. Of the varieties, Ehlers, Korn, and Thiele gave far this 
best results, and, with the exception of Eyth, the results were all above 
season’s average for the district. The tubers were all shapely and free il 
scab, Red Skin and Brown River potatoes were tried in small plots wit did 
without wood ashes, the result being that the plots without the ashes 
slightly better than those so treated. 
GROWING POTATOES ON THE SURFACE. 
Some months ago a gentleman was removing a heap of dry couch-grass gate é 
corner of his garden, and in the centre of it he found a very large sweet Pp? wail 
With respect to the ordinary or English potato, very good crops can be: rahe 
without putting the sett underground. ‘he tuber itself is not the root a ik 
plant, but merely an excrescence which contains plant food. ‘The roots * ae 
selves, which are fibrous and branched, are produced below the tubers, ad 
