Further Potato Yields From Experimental Plots

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 23, 20 February 1948, Page 8

Further Potato Yields From Experimental Plots

The Fields Instructor, Mr E. R. Marryatt states that the next six varieties to reach maturity in this year’s Potato Variety Trial have be£n lifted. The results for these six varieties for last year and this year combined are set out on the same basis as were those for the first eight varieties, i.e. with the comparative yield of Katahdin, the best of these eight, stated as 100. The other seven yields are repeated for comparison purposes: Doon Early 95; Chippewa 95; Catriona 80; Robin Adair 65; Epicure 60; Cliff’s Kidney 50; King Edward 33. Compare these figures with the following for the next six varieties to be lifted: Arran Pilot, a very good Second Early, is the best of the six with a comparative yield of 125 Up to Date, a mid-season variety, Arran Banner, a Second Early, and Jersey Bennes, a mid-season variety, Were second best with a comparative yield of 85; Majestic, sometimes known as Findlay’s Majestic, a mid-season variety, was on a par with Robin Adair for yield, 65; and Early Rose, a mid-season variety, was on a par with Epicure for yield, 60. All the early varieties and some of the earlier of the mid-season varieties have now been dug and it is likely that the remaining thirteen mid-season and late varieties will be ready to lift about the same time in say, another fortnight. A Second Early not. grown this year and the absence of which from the trial may surprise some people is Black Kidney. The reason it has been dropped is that it has shown itself to be the lowest yielder of all the earlies and the poorest variety of all from all points of view. This applies throughout New Zealand. Recommendations For Earlies There is no shadow of doubt that for a First Early no variety should be considered but Doon Early. Epicure is a back number with only two-thirds of the yield of Doon Early. When Doon Early was described before it was said to be floury but out of ten people describing this quality five said it was floury, two said it was firm and three said it was soapy, and so there is evidently some difference of opinion. For Second Earlies a ehoice of the following varieties may be made: Arran Pilot, Chippewa, Up to Date, Katahdin, Arran Banner, and Catriona. Varieties which should definitely be discarded if better yields are desired are Black Kidney and Cliff’s Kidney. Government Certified Seed is more likely to give satisfactory results than uncertified, particularly in potatoes.