THE BRITISH POTATO BOOST. (Mark Lane Express, November 7.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2650, 28 December 1904, Page 8

THE BRITISH POTATO BOOST. (Mark Lane Express, November 7.)

Mr J. N. Thomson, manager to the Misses Coats, Glensannox Farm, in the island of Arran, had 12 leading varieties of potatoes planted this season. One of these was the Northern Star, three potatoes of which were planted, weighing HB. When lifted, they turned out 405 good-sized tubers. a return of 135 to each potato planted. The weight amounted to 4et 101b, which makes a return of Ist 81b to each potato. The return issued by the Board of Agriculture last week, dealing with the crops and iive stook of the United Kingdom "for 1904, and comparing them with 1903, shows that the potato js the only green crop grown on a larger area this year than in 1903, the increase being no less than 4542 acres. The increase has, however, been chiefly in Scotland, where there are 6371 acres more than last year. On the other hand, Wales has 483 acres less under potato cultivation, and the majority of English counties show a decline in area. In Cambridgeshire it amounts to as much as 1488 acres, but was 5 balanced by gains of 4674 acres in Lincolnshire, the most considerable potatogrowing county; 1122 acres in Staffordshire, 867 aores in Lancashire, and smaller increases in a few other counties. Mr W. R. Crawford has now sent to the secretaries of *h<? Cookstown Horticultural and Agricultural Society his report on the potato-growing competition recently inspected by him. He says: — "The quality on the whole is fair, but in comparison with last year the crops show a decrease in the average weight per acre of 2 tons IBewt. All the fields were sprayed, and showed careful cultivation on the part of the growers. The competition was interesting, S3 showing the benefit to be derived by applying potash to the potato crop, the prize-winners' crops showing an average increase in weight of 2 tons 6cwt, and in value £6 3s per acre. The fields of Messrs Duff and Huey, in addition to being dressed with potash, received a dressing- of lewt sulphate of ammonia per acre. In both fields the tops grew much larger on the dressed portion ; being rank and soft they were killed sooner than the undressed part, consequently the crop was smaller in bulk, and contained more refuse."-

Mr James Berkeley again takes first place for a well-cultivated field, free from weeds, potatoes good quality, but slightly smaller than usual. Mr James Forsythe makes a good second, with a field also well cultivated and clean, potatoes good quality, and very uniform in size. Third 1 place goes to Mr D. Bell, potatoes good quality, but being grown after a crop of flax the land is not so free from weeds as the other 3; Mr Duff has an average crop, well cultivated, but planted much too thin ; sets showing an average distance apart of 18in to 20in. Mr Huey also shows an average crop, and although planted in a stiffer and colder soil, the crop compares favourably with some of the other competitors. Mr Wm. Huey grew Up to Dates, and all the others Black Skerries. Proof was heard in Perth Sheriff Court on the 27th ult., before Sheriff Sym, in an action at the instance of Mr A. Findlay, MyereJand, Auohtermuohty, against Mr W. Pattullo, Fullarton, Meigle, concluding for £249 18s 6d as damages in respect of the defender not implementing an alleged contract of sale, in which he bought from the pursuer two tons of Northern Star potatoes at a price of £300 per ton. Pursuer averred that the potatoes were sold by him to the defender at the beginning of November, 1903, subject to the condition should he have a sufficient amount on hand from which to supply defender's orders. He wrote on March 15 last intimating that he was forwarding the potatoes _conform to the order. The defender then wrote that no potatoes were to be forwarded, and the delivery would not be taken. The potatoes were thereafter sold by the authority of the Sheriff-substitute in Cupar, and the difference between the amount realised and the sum claimed was asked for.