POTATO-CULTURE.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4, 20 October 1928, Page 254

POTATO-CULTURE.

DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT VARIETIES.* ( Continued.)

J. W. Hadfield,

H.D.A., Agronomist, Fields Division

Sutton’s Supreme and Aucklander.

The variety Sutton’s Supreme is not obtainable now in England, and is probably almost extinct in this country also. Certainly it is not grown commercially. The two Aucklanders —Short-top and Tall-top—-have been grown and sold as Sutton’s Supreme for a number of years. The Aucklander is a valuable New Zealand production, and the writer is indebted to Mr. A. J. Rich, of Kaiapoi, for the following historical facts.

For some years prior to 1900 Mr. James Wright, of Coutt’s Island (Eyre County), was growing Sutton’s Supreme on contract for a firm in Auckland. The popularity of the variety amongst growers waned on the introduction of Northern Star, which produced an abundance of seed and commanded at the time as high a price as Sutton’s Supreme or any other early variety.

Sutton’s Supreme always produced a number of tall late plants, however carefully the seed was picked over. Mr. . Rich first observed these in 1907, and obtained- some selections in 1908. The late Mr. Matthew Laws had been working for Mr. Wright and had also noted the rogues., During 1907 and 1908 he worked for Mr. Rich, and it was Mr. Laws who suggested that Mr. Rich should peg out some of these rogues, which showed increased cropping-power and were conspicuously blight-resistant. Two years later Mr. Rich had 4 tons of this variety, which is now grown under the name of Short-top. Aucklander. The name Aucklander was given by Mr. Laws. At this time Mr. Rich took over another farm, and Mr. Laws took a cottage nearby. Mr. Laws had become quite enthusiastic over the possibilities of the new selection, and was always on the lookout for anything distinctive.

About three years later three tall-growing plants, quite distinct from the previous selections, were noted in a crop of Sutton’s Supreme. Mr. Rich, Mr. Laws, and another grower each took a plant for further trial. From these plants came the present-day Tall-top Aucklander. Mr. Laws selected quite a number of variations, which were of great interest to himself and other potato-growers in the Kaiapoi district. One Tall-top variety with a very spreading top was grown for some time, but the tubers were too coarse for commercial purposes, and the variety is rarely grown now.

The Tall-top may be distinguished from the Short-top by the following characteristics : The Tall-top is taller, the inflorescence is much more prominent, and the flowers more profuse. The Tall-top tubers are not

so shapely, and they adhere to the parent plant when the whole shaw is pulled up just before maturity, and when removed tear away, leaving a much larger wound at the point where the stem was attached. The Short-top comes away more easily and cleanly. When mature the Short-top haulms lie fiat and are devoid of leaves ; in the Tall-top they stand semi-erect and often have attached a number of dead leaves. The Tall-top is about three weeks later than the Short-top, while Sutton's Supreme is distinctly earlier than either of the Aucklanders.

AUCKLANDER TALL-TOP (NEW ZEALAND SUTTON’S SUPREME). Origin.— See prefatory notes under heading of Sutton’s Supreme and Aucklander.” ' Habit. Vigorous, tall, open, and moderately erect and stiff. Stem. Wings lightly waved. Colour 2. Leaf.- -Medium dull green ; leaflets small and crinkled. Inflorescence.— Tall and prominent. Flowers white and fairly numerous. Tuber. — Oval to kidney. Skin creamy-white, clear, and smooth ; very thin and easily bruised. Flesh white. Eyes medium to shallow. Sprouts very pale pink. Maturity.— Early main crop. .. •

AUCKLANDER SHORT-TOP (NEW ZEALAND SUTTON’S SUPREME).

Origin— -See prefatory notes

Habit. — Vigorous, open, medium height, moderately spreading but stiff Stem. Wings slightly waved. Colour 2.

Leaf. — Medium dark green ; leaflets small and crinkled. Inflorescence. Medium height; flowers white and scanty.

■ Tuber. — Shape oval to kidney. Skin creamy and clear and smooth; very thin and easily bruised. Flesh white. Eyes medium to shallow. Sprouts very pale pink.

Maturity.— Second early

Notes. —A very fine quality variety, the one objection being the clear thin skin, which bruises easily and shows the least, trace of scab: This variety is probably to be preferred to the Tall-top for North Island conditions. For means of identifying the Short-top from the Tall-top see separate notes.

Northern Star, Gamekeeper, Maori Chief, and Britain’s Best.

The mixture which goes under the name of either Northern Star or Gamekeeper has not yet received much investigation. J. Beverley records (this Journal, Vol. X, p. 357) that there is a distinction between these two varieties in the flower, and considers it a mistake to deal with them as synonymous. He states that Gamekeeper, which- is of New Zealand origin, is a selection from Northern Star. Maori Chief, another New Zealand variety, is also stated to be a selection from Northern Star, and appears similar in all respects, except that the tubers are white splashed with purple. Britain's Best, a third New Zealand selection, may be classed as a Northern Star, from which it differs very little if at all. ' The following description is adapted from British authorities.. The writer has failed to obtain a type description constant in all respects, due, no doubt, to the presence of several varieties. NORTHERN STAR (GAMEKEEPER, BRITAIN’S BEST* AND MAORI CHIEF). Origin.— Not known, but was introduced to commerce by Findlay in 1900 or .1902, and caused much excitement in Great Britain, being sold for as much as £25 per tuber. ... Habit, — Strong, upright, tall, and dense foliage. Stem. Wings waved slightly. Colour 0-1, and extending to the midribs of the young leaves. . - Leaf. — Dark grey-green. Leaflets small and pointed. Inflorescence. — Short and inconspicuous. Flowers small, white, and rare; mostly drop before opening. Flower-buds markedly green. Tuber. Round. Skin white, moderately rough. Flesh white. Sprouts pink. Eyes medium and deep at rose end. There is a single spot of pink in the eye, most noticeable in the terminal buds, and some pink at the heel end of an immature tuber. Produces numerous long runners and small tubers. Maturity.— Late main crop. Notes.— undesirable variety for light land owing to the very large number of seed-size tubers produced. On heavy land its cooking-quality is' decidedly inferior. It is distinctly disease-resistant, especially to. late blight, and is therefore of considerable commercial value in certain parts of the North Island. Northern Star is the most common rogue in the commercial crops of white potatoes in this country. Maori Chief is a white potato splashed with purple. See separate notes dealing with this group. * ■

IRON DUKE, OR PRESIDENT. Origin.- Iron Duke and President are identical. General is a white-flowered President of Dutch origin, introduced into commerce about 1896. The variety is grown in parts of Canterbury under the name of Majestic, to which it is in no way similar. When grown under its proper name it is generally referred to as Iron Duke. ' ■ Habit. —Tall, upright, open, and vigorous. Stem.— Wings waved. Colour 1. Leaf. Light green,' large and broad. Inflorescence. Tall and prominent. - Flowers numerous, large, red-purple and distinctly white-tipped. (Compare with Up-to-Date.) Tuber. — Round to oval. Skin rough and white. Eyes medium. When mature the skin round the eyes shows - a pink tinge, but this is not constant and is difficult to observe. ■ Flesh intermediate to white. Sprouts pink. Maturity.— main crop. Notes. —A good cropping variety for rich land. Unfortunately all stocks inspected appear to be infected with mosaic.

GREAT SCOTT.

Origin.— Raised by G. Mair, of Lockerbie, in 1906, and introduced to commerce by Mr. McAlister, of Dumfries, in 1909. Sefton Wonder is identical with Great Scott, except that the skin of the tuber is russet. , *

Habit. Tall, upright, open, and vigorous. Stem. Wings straight. Colour 1.

Leaf. — Dark green and glossy.

Inflorescence. Inconspicuous. Flowers white and rare. Buds generally drop. Occasionally bolters appear bearing profuse flowers on long stalks.

Tuber. — Round. Skin yellowish-white, rough. Eyes medium, and deep at rose end. Flesh white. Sprouts pink.

Maturity.— Second early to early main crop.

Notes.Was introduced to this country several years ago, but has not spread. This is hard to explain in view of the fact that it is an excellent cropper, a good keeper, and very resistant to late blight and virus disease.

ARRAN CHIEF. Origin. —-Raised by D. MacKelvie in 1907, and introduced by him into commerce in 19it. ‘ The pollen parent was Sutton’s Flour-ball. “ Habit. Medium to strong vigour, tall, upright, and open. Stem.— Wings very waved. Colour 2. . Leaf. — Medium green. Leaflets small, wrinkled, and V-shaped. Inflorescence. — Inconspicuous. Flowers scanty, white, with green tips ; drop readily in the bud stage. Tuber. — Round and somewhat flat. . Skin white and somewhat rough. Eyes medium depth, clustered towards the upper rose end. The underside carries very few eyes. Flesh white. There is to be observed on the immature tuber a purple coloration at the junction of stem and tuber. Sprouts deep purple. Maturity.- Late main crop. . Notes. —An excellent variety for medium to heavy potato-land, and undoubtedly the most valuable commercial white grown in New Zealand. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to procure lines free from Northern Star.

NEW ERA.(PERFECTION, OR PERFECTION NEW ERA). Origin.— A New Zealand selection which has been tested out in Great Britain and reported to be a bolter from Evergood. The latter was raised by A. Findlay and placed in the market in 1900. - It was originally produced under the name of Eldorado. The writer, however, cannot distinguish between New Era and Evergood as described by British authorities, except in the roughness of the skin. • Habit. — Tall., medium vigour, with upright to spreading and open foliage. Stem. — not waved. Colour o. ' Leaves.— Dark gray or yellowish-green. Leaflets crinkled, small, narrow, and pointed and V-shaped. . , Inflorescence. — Tall with medium-size trusses. Flowers pale lavender ; very rare and generally fall in the bud stage. Flower-buds green and coloured round base. Tuber: — Short oval and flat. Skin white. Eyes shallow. Flesh very pale yellow (intermediate). Sprouts very pale pink. Chief characteristic is the presence of a proportion of tubers having a distinctly flaked skin ; others are more or less smooth. Both types, somewhat modified, may arise from the same plant. It is probable that maturity and soil conditions affect this characteristic, which is very clear in the illustration. ■ r Maturity. Early main crop. Notes.—vergood is reported to be - of particular value on heavy and peaty soils, and to be highly resistant to late blight. This is true also of New Era, which plays an important part in North Island potato growing.

UP-TO-DATE AND FIELD-MARSHAL.

Origin. — Introduced to commerce by A. Findlay in 1894 an said to be the result of Patterson Victoria X Blue Don. Field-Marshal is identical with Up-to-Date, except that the tubers have a russet skin.

Habit. — Vigorous, tall, medium, spreading and open foliage

Stem. Wings waved. Colour 1. The stems are particularly thick, hard, and woody. ' ' . 1

Leaf. — Light to medium green. Leaflets large, and end pair overlap the terminal. -. ■ '

Inflorescence. — Very tall and prominent; ■ borne on thick stalks. Flowers light-red purple, numerous, and lasting over a long period. Colour shades off towards tips of the corolla, but it is not distinctly white-tipped.

Tuber. — Oval to kidney flattened. Skin white and smooth, sometimes roughened. Eyes shallow, mainly at rose end and on upper surface. Flesh white. Sprouts pink.

Maturity.— Early main crop to late main crop.

Notes. —An excellent variety in every respect, but not grown extensively now owing to the difficulty of obtaining pure lines capable of giving satisfactory yields. This deterioration is almost entirely due to infection by leaf-roll, wiltdisease, and the presence of bolters and wildings. All lines inspected in this country are more or less heavily infected with -roll and wilt-disease. . Up-to-Date is frequently grown and sold as Sutton’s Supreme. To most people Up-to-Date represents the ideal of what a potato should be. This is evident from the fact that the Scottish Board of Agriculture report no less than 175 synonyms or varieties that are identical with Up-to-Date. ■.»

(To be continued.)

* New readers are referred to the section, “ Scheme of Varietal Descriptions,” page 152 of the September issue.

Notes. —-A very fine quality potato. One objection is the very thin clear skin, which bruises easily and shows up the least trace of scab. For means of identifying the Short-top from the Long-top see separate notes.