POTATO VARIETY TESTS: SEASON 1915-16.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XIII, Issue 1, 20 July 1916, Page 59

POTATO VARIETY TESTS: SEASON 1915-16.

MOUMAHAKI.

In past years a large number of varieties of potatoes have been tested at the. Moumahaki Experimental Farm. Each year numerous sorts were discarded, with the result that during the past season, although an increased area was grown, the number of varieties was considerably reduced.

As in the previous season, the land devoted to potatoes was a portion of an old lucerne-field, and the lucerne having enriched the soil in nitrogenous matter it was not necessary to supply any to the crop artificially. The following fertilizers were applied at the rate ,of 5 cwt. per acre: Superphosphate 5 parts, sulphate of potash 1 part. • ■.

Planting took place from the 22nd to 27th September, 1915. The crop was sprayed with Vermorite on 23rd November and again on 15th December, and the tubers were lifted during the last week in March, 1916. A normal growing season was experienced.

—T. W. Lonsdale,

Manager, Mowmahaki Experimental Farm.

' Variety. Marketable Tubers. Tons per Acre. . Small Tubers. ' Tons per Acre. Total Yield. Tons per Acr Gamekeeper 20-00 3-00 23-00 Maori Chief (ordinary seed) •• 15-25 i-75 17-00 Maori Chief (small seed) ”, 9’75 1-50 H-25 Vitality .. - 20-00 2-00 22-00 King Edward . . . • • . 7-50 2-00 9-50 Red Rock 8-25 1-75 . . 10-00 Up-to-Date 8-50 1-00 9-50 Patea Gem ’ ' .. 8-75 ■ 2-25 11-00 Commercial , .. •• • n-75 1-25 13-00 Palmer’s Prolific .. .. 11-50 " 1-00 12-50 Queen Mary .. 9-00 1-50 10-50 Skerry Blue 6-25 1-50 ■7:75 Star of New Zealand 10-25 1-25 11-50 Sir J. G. Wilson . .' 12-50 6-75 19-25 Arran Chief .. : 8-75 2-00 10-75

Following are the results as regards the principal varieties tested :-