EXPERIMENTS BY CHILDREN

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1933, Page 14

EXPERIMENTS BY CHILDREN

CULTIVATION OF POTATO PLANTS SUCCESS AT MOTURQA SCHOOL. A total area of 72 square yards planted in potatoes by pupils of the Moturoa school yielded 2371 b of potatoes, equal to seven tons, two hundredweight, and 27.61 b per acre. The experiments were carried out by the senior boys under the direction of Mr. W. R. Adams, headmaster, and Mr. M. Jenkin, assistant. The senior boys engaged in a potato growing trial, an area 72 yards square being divided into eight plots, each nine square yards, for the purpose. Four of these were sown in lupin, and four in oats at the outset, and the green crops were dug in on June 8. Three varieties of potatoes were planted in each plot, Sutton’s Supreme, Epicure, and Maoii Chief. In four of the plots the seeds were planted whole and in the other four they were cut, one of the purposes of the experiment being to ascertain which methods give the best results. The artificial manures used were as follows: Superphosphate equal 6cwt per acre, sulphate of ammonia 2cwt per acre, sulphate of potash IJcwt per acre. All tubers were reasonably sprouted before they were planted. The total yield per acre of Epicure was 6 tons 12cwt 2qr 271 b; Sutton’s Supreme, 9 tons scwt Oqr 61b; Maori Chief, 5 tons 4cwt Iqr 211 b. In 1931 a trial was conducted at the school, but on that occasion only one variety—Sutton’s Supreme—was planted. A good deal of seaweed had been added the previous year and the yield was equal to 12. tons 12cwt 2qr 201 b. This year’s trial has involved the keeping of very complete records by each pupil.

Detailed results are:— Plot A: Uncut seed following oats. Total weight for plot equal to 25 tons 4cwt Oqr 171 b per acre. Epicure: Table, 2 tons 3cwt Oqr 241 b; seed, 2 tons 17cwt 2qr 131 b; pig, 1 ton Bcwt 3qr 71b. Sutton’s Supreme: Table, 17 tons 5 cwt 2qr 241 b; seed, 4 tons 6cwt Iqr 201 b; pig, 2 tons 3cwt Oqr 241 b. Maori Chief: Table, nil; seed, 1 ton Bcwt 3qr 71b; pig, nil. Plot B: Cut seed on lupin. Total weight for plot equal to 23 tons 9cwt 3qr 11b per acre. Epicure: Table, 2 tons 17cwt 2qr 131 b; seed, 2 tons 3cwt Oqr 241 b; pig, 1 ton Bcwt 3qr 71b. Sutton’s Supreme: Table, 2 tons 17 cwt 2qr 131 b; seed, 2 tons 12cwt 2qr 131 b; pig, 14cwt Iqr 171 b. Maori. chief: Table, 5 tons 15cwt Oqr 271 b; seed, 3 tons 12cwt Oqr 31b; pig, 2 tons 3cwt Oqr 241 b. Plot C: Uncut seed on lupin. Total weight 28 tons 16cwt Oqr 211 b. Epicure: Table, 4 tons 6cwt Iqr 201 b; seed, 3 tons 12cwt Oqr 31b; pig, 14cwt Iqr 171 b. e> Sutton’s Supreme: Table, 8 tons 12 cwt 3qr 121 b; seed, 3 tons 12cwt Oqr 31b; pig, 14cwt Iqr 171 b. Maori Chief: Table, 2 tons 17cwt 2qr 131 b; seed, 3 tons 12cwt Oqr 31b; pig. 14cwt Iqr 171 b. *» Plot D: Cut seed on oats. Total weight for plot 18 tons 14cwt 2qr 131 b. Epicure: Table, 2 tons 17cwt 2qr 131 b; seed," 2 tons 17cwt 2qr 131 b; pig, 14cwt Iqr 171 b. Sutton’s Supreme: Table, 4 tons 6cwt Iqr 201 b; seed, 2 tons 17cwt 2qr 131 b; pig, 1 ton Bcwt 3qr 71b. Maori Chief: Table, 2 tons 3cwt Oqr 241 b; seed, 1 ton Bcwt 3qr 71b; pig, nil. . , . Plot E: Cut seed on oats. Total weight for plot 16 tons 16cwt 3qr 171 b. Epicure: Table, 1 ton Bcwt 3qr 71b; seed, 1 ton Bcwt 3qr 71b; pig, 1 ton Bcwt 3qr 71b. A u. Sutton’s Supreme: Table, 5 tons Ocwt 3qr 91b; seed, 2 tons 17cwt 2qr 131 b; pig, 1 ton Bcwt 3qr 71b. Maori Chief: Table, none; seed 1 ton Bcwt 3qr 71b; pig, 14cwt Iqr 171 b. Plot F: Uncut seed on lupin. Total weight for plot 23 tons 15cwt Iqr 121 b. Eqicure: Table, 1 ton Bcwt 3qr 71b; seed, 3. tons 12cwt Oqr 31b; pig, 4 tons 6cwt Iqr 201 b. Sutton’s Supreme: Table, 3 tons 12 cwt. Oqr 31b; seed, 2 tons 3cwt Oqr 241 b, pjg, 2 tons 17cwt 2qr 131 b. Maori Chief: Table, 2 tons 3cwt. Oqr 241 b; seed, 2 tons 3cwt Oqr 241 b; pig, 1 ton Bcwt '3qr. 71b. Plot G: Cut seed on lupin. Total weight for plot 12 tons 19cwt Iqr 31b. Epicure: Table, 14cwt’ Iqr 171 b; seed, 1 ton Bcwt 3qr 71b; pig, 14cwt Iqr 171 b. Sutton’s Supreme: Table, 2 tons 3 cwt Oqr 241 b; pig, 14cwt Iqr 171 b. Maori Chief: Table, 1 ton Bcwt 3qr 71b; seed, 2 tons 3cwt Oqr 241 b; pig, 1 ton Bcwt 3qr 71b.

Plot H: Uncut on oats. Total weight for plot 20 tons 17pwt 2qr 261 b. Epicure: Table, 3 tons 12cwt Oqr 31b; seed, 2 tons 3cwt Oqr 241 b; pig, 2 tons 17cwt 2qr 131 b. Sutton’s Supreme: Table, 5 tons Ocwt 3qr 91b;-seed, 1 ton Bcwt ,3qr 71b; pig, 14cwt Iqr 171 b. Maori Chief: Table, 2 tons 3cwt Oqr 241 b; seed, 14cwt Iqr 171 b; pig, 2 tons 3cwt Oqr 241 b. i