POTATOES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21808, 13 June 1936, Page 20

POTATOES

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —I wonder how many readers were puzzled by the strange letter appearing over the name of “Certified Seed?” It was certainly news to me to learn that the Aucklander Short Top strain of potatoes is actualy the English Eclipse or Fortyfold appearing on the New Zealand market under another name. There is little similarity between the two, and certainly no evidence to refute the fact thr.t the Aucklander is actually a “bolter” or “sport” from the well-known Sutton’s Supreme, and is frequently described in reputable catalogues as “New Zealand Sutton Supreme.” Further, it is difficult to imagine a grower of ordinary intelligence planting Beauty of Hebron under the impression that it is the Arran Chief. Cer-

tified strains of both are easily procurable, and possess widely different characteristics. It is not difficult for the grower of small quantities to build up for himself a stock that is both pure and healthy. The haphazard method of separating one’s crop into “table” and “seed” simply according to size is useless. The process needs patience and constant watchfulness, and begins long before lifting time. If a gardener is satisfied that his stock is true, he marks the plants that grow in a normal and healthy manner and show no signs of disease. Then at lifting time he sorts out the sets that are of good shape and texture, and lays them but at once on a tray in a dry, cool, and frost-proof shed. A good plan is to send a quantity of this chosen seed out to some friend in the country, and have him plant it for a season in a light, even stony, soil; repeating the process of careful selection as before. This process generally puts new life into a deteriorating stock, and pays handsomely. If any grower is in doubt about the identity of a portion of his stock he will find that it is possible to label them fairly exactly from the excellent tables published in the “Agricultural Journal” of 1935.—Yours, etc., AMATEUR. June 12, 1936.

TO THE EDITOR OJf THE PKESS. >h\—"The Press" of June 11 contains a letter signed by "Certified Seed," in which I was interested and to which I would like to reply. As far as I am aware the variety Vitality is not known in Canterbury, and if grown in other parts of New Zealand, the area is probably . only small; It may have been brought to this country to replace the old Up-to-Date, which is certainly subject to blight in some districts, but is still grown quite extensively in favourable localities. The history of the Aucklander Short and Long top is known, since it was grown in Canterbury, but it does not correspond to any variety listed in England or Scotland. "Certified Seed" mentions that Eclipse, Early Eclipse, Old Fortyfold, and Up-to-Date are the same potato. This is not correct, according to Pub-* lication Number 4, issued by the Department of Agriculture. Scotland, in which is given the list of varieties of potatoes grown and tested in Great Britain. Eclipse is mentioned there as synonymous with Sir John Llewellyn. The variety, Princess Mary, is another name for the British Queen potato. Your correspondent also states that King Edward and Arran Chief are both pink and white, with a smooth skin. The King Edward answers to that description, but the true Arran Chief is a round, white variety, generally with a rough skin. The eye of the Arran Chief is white and sprout purple. The Arran Chief we have in this country is the genuine variety and the Government certified strains are excellent cropping. The Beauty of Hebron, that "Certified Seed" mentions, is a pink, early potato grown in Canterbury on the I lighter soils. —Yours, etc., I ARRAN CHIEF. June 11, 1936.