NEW ZEALAND POTATO-SEED IN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND.

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 471, 19 October 1850, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND POTATO- SEED IN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND.

The following communications will, we have little doubt, be read with interest by our fel-low-colonists generally, but especially by those who are engaged in agricultural pursuits. The circumstances which elicited them may be told i n a few words., An intelligent and benevolent gentleman living in the interior of the Colony, on hearing of the prevalence of the potato disease in the other hemispheie, forwarded to Earl Grey about 50,000 seeds of the New Zealand potato, to be distributed for trial at home, should his lordship think fit to direct that such a trial should be made. The suggestion was promptly acted upon by Lord Grey, and the Letters which we subjoin contain an authenticated report of the success of the experiment in one case — that of the trial made in the Experimental Garden of the Royal Caledonia Horticultural Society at Edinburgh. Other Societies of a similar character have acknowledged the receipt of the seeds, but this is the only one from which, as yet, theie ha* been an account of the result. It is evident, however, that the Home Government did not disregard the contribution ; and the polite attention which the gentleman who forwarded it has experienced deserves to be made known, if it were only to assure the public that such donations from New Zealand to the gardens of the home country will meet with due and grateful consideration. Our estimable friend (we trust he will allow us to call him so), who has placed these Letters in our hands, desires that his name should not be mentioned. Before we had the pleasure of meeting him, we had heard that he was one of those who Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame. We of course, however, comply with his request, the statements being abundantly authenticated by the official signatures connected with them. Downing Street, 20lh January, 1850. Srit, — With reference to my despatch No. 27, of the 17th May last, 1 transmit to yon the Copy ot a Letter from the Secretary to the lloynl Caledonia Horticultural Society, with a Report on the result of the first yeai's trial of the Potato Seeds sent home to this country by Mr. • , and I have to lequcst that the contents of the accompanying paper may be communicated to that gentleman. I have, &c, &c, (Signed) Grey. Governor Sir George Grey, &c, &c.

Royal Caledonia Horticultural Society. Experimental GanU-n, Edinburgh, 29th Dec, 1349. Sir, — I beg leave to communicate a Report on the first year's tu.il of potato seeds from New Zealand, received fiom the Colonial Office last spiing. Excuse me for mentioning that in the Society's Gnrden we possess the best means of making 111 1 i a 1 of any sort of f reifjn seeds ; that we have been rather successful in raising various ure Coniface ; and that you may depend on our paying every attention to any communication from you. I am, &c, (Signed) Uobt. Ne/Ui. B. Hawes, Esq., &c, &c.

Experimental Garden, Edinburgh, 6th December, 1819. Report on Seedling Potatoes raised in the Experimental Garden, Edinburgh, IS¥J. — Head at tho General Meeting, Cth December, 1849. In accordance with instructions received from Council, I beg to submit the following Report on Seedling Potatoes raised in the Society's Garden this year from seeds saved in New Zealand, and transmitted to tho Society by Government. The seed was sown in seed pans on the sth April, and placed in a warm frame where it soon terminated, the youni* plntits were afterwards placed round the edges of pots, and set in a cool frame where they remained until the middle of June, when they were planted in the Culinarium, in rows eightcn inches apart, and above eight inches from plant to plant. The plants received no attention beyond that given to similar crops, i.e., earthing up and keeping free from weeds, until the end of August, when they had grown so much as to render it necessary to remove every alternate row, this leaving the remaining lows three feet apart; at this period scarcely any tubers had been formed, but the plants were very vigorous, and had emitted great numbets of underground stems or runners which were carefully earthed over. On the 26th Sept. — while the leavca, were perfectly green and healthy in appearance— the stems of every other row were cut ofFclose to to the ground, care being taken not to disturb the roots. In this situation they remained until the steins ol those left were deslroyed by frost in the early par of October. On the 10th Oct. the whole were lifted (with the exception of one row, which lias been earthed over and left in the ground), when the following results were obtained, viz. Two rows each 45 foot length with stems out, yielded above three pecks of potatoes, varying in size from that of a garden bean to a, hen's egg j from one row nine diseased tubers were picked while the rest were quite sound. Two rows of same length, and from which tho stems had noc been removed, produced 3{ pecks, tubers mostly of larger size than the others j from oue of these rows three diseased tubes were taken, and eight from the other; all the rest healthy. The potatoes were all of a white colour, a few having pink eyes ; they exhibited considerable diversity of form, some being round and others kidney shaped. The largest weighed 4£ ouncei, and I have no doubt, had the weather continued open for a week or two

longer, they would have been much larger and an abundant crop. (Signed) W. W. Evans, Superintendent. The Council have directed that these potatoes be continued under trial iv the Society's Experimental Gaiden. Robt. Nr,u,L, Secretary. We should be glad if some of our intelligent and expei ienced farmeis in this neighbourhood would favour us with their views on the very interesting report which we have been enabled thus to lay before them.

HosriTAL Reserved Lands.— Pursuant to notice in the Government Gazette, Messrs. Connell& Ridings proceeded on Wednesday last to submit for Lease by Public Auction six lots of the Hospital Reserves. The result is worth recording as indicating the increasing value of property in Auckland and its suburbs. This will appear from the following Report,— the reader bearing in mind the limited terms of years for which the properties were to be leased, the conditions under which the tenants acquire possession, and the extent to which the amount engaged for exceeded the upset demand. Lot 1. Shortland-street, with 81 feet frontage 21 \ ears. The buildings and improvements on the allotment at the termination of the Lease to belong to the Tiust. Upset Annual Rent, £10. Rent engaged for, £91. Lessee, Mr. J. Makepcach. Lot 2. Bank-street, with 43 feet frontage. . ...21ycais. Same conditions. Upset Annual Rent, £8 10s. Rent engaged for, £8 15s. Lessee, Mr. H. Hadlow. Lot 3. Epsom and Tamaki Road, containing 7a. lr. lOp 10 years. To be fenced within three years ; to be cultivated in a husbandmanlike manner, and to be left in grass. Upset Rent, £7 ss. Rent engaged foi, £16. Lessees, Messrs. Williamson & Crummer. Lot 4. Epsom and Tamaki Road, containing 14a. Or. 8p 10 years. Same conditions. Upset Rent, £15. Rent engaged for, £24. Lessee, Mr, T. Henry. Lot 5. Junction of Panmure and Papakura Roads, containing 53a 21 years. To be enclosed within three years by a scoria wall, and left at the termination of the lease in grass. Upset Rent, £10. Rent engaged for, £18. Lessees, Messrs. Siiarph & Walker. Lot 6. Epsom Road, containing 40a.. . . 21 years. Same conditions. Upset Rent, £15. Rent engaged for, £50. Lessee, Mr. Robert Thompson. It will thus be seen that all the lots produced more than the Upset Rent : — some of them moie than double \ and the last lot more than treble that amount. The Annual Income accruing to the Hospital from Wednesday's Auction will be no less then £207 159. In every aspect therefore this result cannot be otherwise than highly gratifying.

The cabin passengers by the barque Barbara Gordon, lately arrived fiom England, impressed with a grateful sense of Captain Ltllry's attention to their comfott, and his courteous and kind conduct duiing the voyage, entertained that gentleman at dinner, at the Royal Exchange hotel, on Tuesday last. Mr. Haudington performed his part of purveyor for the dinner, as usual, well, and the occasion passed off very satisfactorily, all the Company muting in best wishes for the future prosperity of their Guest.