A PROLIFIC POTATO.

Waikato Argus, Volume XVIII, Issue 2907, 20 June 1905, Page 2

A PROLIFIC POTATO.

If there is anything now in potatoes Mr G. J. Neal, of Karapiro, Cambridge, is sure to find it out and obtain the variety at the earliest possible moment. Ho has been in communication with Mr Russell Kidd, of Invermay, Launceston, ro his new potato, “ Gem of the South,” which promises to be the greatest producer the world has seen, The haulm of this potato grows nine feet long ; but it yields enormously, for at the first digging of a small plot, from 22 sets 1011b were obtained; while 20 seta of Up-to-Date, set alongside, only returned 191h. This is what tho Launceston Examiner says of the potato At 3 o’clock, the time appointed, Mr Kidd commenced digging the potatoes, Mr A, Crossley having charge of the scales. There were eleven sots, and the weight of each root was as follows: No. 1, 9lb Boz ; No. 2, 1 lib 3oz ; No. 3, 101b 4oz; No, 4, 41b loz; No. 5, lib 13oz ; No. G, Glb2oz; No. 7, 41b lloz; No. 8, 21h 9oz; No. 9, 2lb 13oz; No, 10, 2lh ; No. 11, 71b -loz. These were from 12ft of row, and the ground was of loamy nature, with a gravelly subsoil, and not suitable for potato growing. It was not specially manured for this crop, nothing having been done to it since the ground was prepared a couple of years ago for onion growing. The heaviest came from the part of the ground that got the most sun, tho spot altogether being a cold one. The seed was planted on December 15 last, and consisted of only 2oz, which was divided into eleven sets, each weighing onefifth of an ounce, so the result is truly remarkable. The total weight from the eleven roots was G2lb 7oz, estimated GOlh by Mr Kidd. This yield is equal to a return of 43 1-5 tons per acre, which constitutes a world’s record. The 1 lib 3oz root, however, would work out at 90 tons an acre.

In reply to a question Mr Kidd stated that the best yield ho had obtained from any other variety of potato grown by him was 3lh to the root, but in the ground referred to he would not have got more than lib. The growth of some of the potatoes shown yesterday was splendid for tho time of tho year, hut there was a mini her of small ones that could have been left a little longer. The haulms ranged up to 9ft in length. The potato is a redskin and of good shape, and tho grower declared that it was a remarkably good eating tuber, which should command for it a ready market. Following are the records of the Gem of the South potato: From tho second growth, from first seed, planted in October 1903, was dug tho world’s record (from a seed) of 42 tubers weighing 4.11b. Half a pound was used to test the quality, leaving 41b with which to continue Liberation. Third growth from 31b ifoz, cut into 70 sets, planted in 59ft of row, from which was dug from unmaiiured land 3071b lOoz of potatoes, equal to 43 tons per aero. Of these 90 per cent, were marketable. This is a world’s ‘record for a first Liberation. These results were sot out on a card for the information of those present, and another card gave approximate history of the new variety, with diagrams showing the size of tho tuber from the first to tho fourth year.