GEM OF THE SOUTH POTATO.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1798, 22 August 1906, Page 55

GEM OF THE SOUTH POTATO.

A Western Australian correspondent of the “Leader,” writes as follows concerning a new potato raised in Tasmania, of which, we recently gave some information in these columns*: “Kindly give expression in ‘The Leader’ to the following re the above: Is it a fair deal what Mr Russell Kidd, of Tasmania,' claims for Ids new potato, and is not the price he asks, 40s per lb., a bit too'steep? I corresponded last year, and that was the price he named, available only in 1906. Is the affair genuine, and i's it worth, the figure named? Can he show the product of what lie saved from last year’s seed? And what has it panned out at per acre in weight?” Responding to the editor’s request for a reply to this, the raiser of the potato writes: — “Invermay, Tas., 24th July. “In reply to the correspondent signing TJroper,’ writing from Western Australia in ‘The Leader’ of the 21st hist., about the bona. Odes of the above potato, the records are:—Tbe original pinhead seed was planted in October, 1903, and the original root dug in March, 1904. That root produced the 1905 crop of 370 lb. from one sowing (I have never attempted to grow two crops in one season). The 370 lb. was planted out in October to December, 1905, and January, 1906. The soil was a light loam, overlying

ironstone gravel, and quite unfit for potato culture. Manure: Stable in drills, 4 inches under the sets, and superphosphate at 2 cwt. per acre 1 . Season: Hot windy, and random. Two special plots were watered. Total yield, 132 sacks, not weighed, but quite 11 tons. The 370 lb. contained 4 lb. weight of small tubers. These were made to plant two special plots—3 lb. m the one and 1 lb. in the other. The 3 lb. yielded 1376 lb. and the one 1 lb. 1132 lb., the latter being about fivo times a world record. Does a potentiality liko that for 40s per lb. constitute a fair deal ? to buy a ton for £4. I forward under separate cover, a pamphlet showing who were among tho witnesses of a public trial, and would invito you to correspond with any of the following gentlemen :- —Mr R. J. McKenzie-, M.H.A., of Invermay ;W. Luck, sour., ‘Vermont,’ Invermay ; C. White, ‘Eastfiold,’ Newnham ; J. Bartley, ‘Poimena,’ Mowbray : J. Lament, Invcrmay—all my immediate neighbours. Or, write to Senator Keating, Melbourne; the mayor and aldermen of Launceston, and a hundred others I could name. I not only claim the world record for the ‘Gem of the South’ as a yielder, but claim the record in seeing that *my ‘claim’ was so thoroughly attested. — Yours, etc.. RUSSELL KIDD.” A Victorian correspondent of the “Ago” also lias something to say on the .same subject. His letter is a.s follows: On the 24th inst. I read a letter on Potato Culture by Mr Russell Kidd, who certainly has a very high opinion of his achievements in producing a nameless potato, which, according to his idea, is to remove all other potortoes into- oblivion. Although I have only been m the State for six years I numb certainly differ with him that the. main crops are not known by any particular name, but by the name of tho district they come from. What about, such varieties as Brown River, Pink Eye and Snowflake, with others quoted in the daily press t With reference to Brown River no doubt this has been an exceptionally good potato, but is failing in vitality, and cannot po-Ably produce profitable crops much longer. It would be very interacting to know who raised this potato, and the parents it was bred from. I have myself asked hundreds of growers (including tho. Government expert, as ho is termed) this question, and all have failed to answer it. Now as to this wonderful potato of Tasmania. It would, I am is'iirc, be of great interest to many potato growers and raisers to know from what this new potato was raised. ; It would also bo appreciated by many in - Victoria if Mr Kidd would give us the name of the original red skinned potato, instead of keeping the secret to himself. From the reading of his letter it iff impossible to say whether this new potato of bis is a new hybrid seedling or an old friend under a now nameless name. It is a revelation to myself, and no doubt to many others, to hear that a new potato can bo raised, the typo Settled, its merits proved and accepted as a model of perfection in 24 months. No seedling potato can possibly claim to have its real character fixed in one or two years. It is a matter of six to ten years of repeated trials, in order to thoroughly test the variety, before it is safe to place it in commerce art a standard variety. It may bo news to Mr Kidd to know that wo raise new seedlings in Victoria, but we have not got to such perfection as to accomplish what is against common sense. In Gembrook we have a large number of new seedlings that have been under cultivation for years, but up to tho present have not been able to fix their character.—Yours, etc., J- D. BRATBY.

[With regard to the origin of the potato known as “Brown’s River,” it is possible that this may bo identical with a potato raised in England many years ago by the well-known English horticulturist, Mr Rivers. There were two potatoes put into commerce about the same time, which were catalogued ao “White Rivers” and “Brown Jtivers.” The variation in name is easy, more particularly if the latter came into favour with, growers in the " Brown’s River district of Tasmania. The potato known in Tasmania by tbe latter name is that which in South New*Zealand is called the “Derwent,” and in Auckland the “Hobart.” Our suggestion is based merely on the similarity of the names*, and may not be toneable. But the matter should be readily elucidated by those who were early engaged in the potato trade.—Ed. “N.Z. Mail.”]