POTATO GROWING

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 July 1927, Page 4

POTATO GROWING

ENGLISH EXPERIMENTS. A summary of potato experiments conducted during the last 10 years under the auspices of the Lancashire County Council, England, will prove of interest for the reason that several of the varieties mentioned have been brought to New Zealand by private individuals. The trials show that King Edward has consistently yielded one ton and a-half of commercial potatoes fewer an acre than Kerr’s Pink, but owing to its greater market value it has actually given a. higher return an acre than any other variety. An additional advantage is that it is ■ easy to sell in a year when potatoes are plentiful, though, unfortunately the variety is deteriorating, and a smaller acreage is devoted to it each year. Ally has proved the heaviest cropper among the varieties immune from disease, but its cooking quality is distinctly inferior and the colour poor. Some authorities say, however, that as a cooker it has improved in the last few years. Majestic has been erratic in its cropping habit; it is somewhat waxy when boiled, but generally realises a good price for chipping. Tinwald Perfection Ims yielded well, especially on peaty land, but the tubers are often rather too small; otherwise it would be more widely grown. Rhoderic Dhu, awarded the Ormskirk gold medal in 1920, has disappointed expectations both in yield and quality. Arran Comrade has the great drawback that, it is easily susceptible to blight. The trials were conducted at five centre, the varieties in each case receiving the same treatment and manuring as for the ordinary commercial crop. Arran Consul gave the heaviest yield—l 3 tons IS:,' cwl.. with 12 tons 17Jcwt tubers of marketable size. It is a late immune variety, being tested for the first time. The tubers are somewhat irregular in shape, round to oval with shallow eyes. The haulm is distinctive; it is only moderately vigorous, of a dull grey-green colour, and bears very few wide open leaves, and a few white flowers on long stems. At. each centre it was considered a most, promising variety, probably the most promising for several years, but in some districts the haulm will not be dense enough to keep the land free from weeds. When tested tor cooking quality it was found to resemble Kerr’s Pink in flavour, texture, and appearance, and as the eyes are shallow it is easier to peel and less wasteful. Kerr’s Pink was the next heaviest cropper (12 tons 16?<cwt); the proportion of marketable tubers (10 tons 13Jcwt) was greater than usual, but it showed none of the second growth which spoiled the sample last year and in some previous years. This is the tenth successive year this variety has been included in the trials, as on account of its good and consistent yields and excellent, cooking qualities it is regarded as the best, of the late varieties with which to compare the others. During these years its average yield has been rather moie llu tons an acre. Great Scot came next in total yield, though not in marketable potatoes. It has. produced just half a. ton less than Kerr’s Pink, and this has happened so often in the past that it can be considered a useful indicator as to the yield that can be expected from Kerr’s Pink. Its chief fault is a tendency to blight and a consequent loss through brown tubers if they are left too long in the soil. When cooked it is liable to he watery, and compared unfavourably in both flavom and texture with all (.he other varieties except Ben Cruaehan. Field Marshal, which gave approximately the same yield as Great Scot, was rather disappointing, as in the two previous years it gave about 1?< tons more than Great Scot, being top both times. It is a cross between Golden Wonder and Up-to-Date. It showed great superiority in the cooking test, being of excellent flavour and texture, and even bettor in appearance than King Edward. It is most unfortunate that it is not immune to wart disease.