THE RURAL WORLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 533, 15 January 1913, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD.

THE WOOL SALES.

Some big catalogues have, been placed before the numerous buyers who are following up this year's sales.. The chief topic among farmers in regard to these Bales is the capital prices that are being obtained. Those who habitually ship their clips to London are between two stools. Prices locally are so good that they hate to pass them by, and yet they cannot, blind their eyes to the fact that shipments to London must be small because of the large quantities being disposed of locally. Moreover, prospects must be very good when such prices as are being given now out here. Buyers from the other side of the world are not philantruphists; they have to be paid big salaries, and they and their attendants must cost a good sum to those engaging them. There can be no doubt* however, that local Bales are all the time, growing more important. There is a great promise of the centre of the woollen markets being removed from London to the Australasian States." Interlotting i'b now largely practised, sometimes with not the best results. As a general rale, if it is done under expert valuers and classers, ihere is no doubt that it is better, than the old system of having so many "star''lots* Some farmers,

however, after an experience of it are not anxious to repeat the experience. But there are always Home who think that ''all their geese are swans." Re-classing is being done by some firms with good results. It is satisfactory to note that as a whole our wool is got up in good order. In fact, by a recent review, embracing all wool growing countries, there is not other part of the globe where wool is treated so well from start to finish.

THE NEW POTATO "ARRAN CHIEF." A new variety of potato "Arran Chief," has, during the past few seasons, been tested in different parts of Great Britain, the test, in many cases, being of a severe nature. It has almost without exception taken the leading place in every trial, and proved itself worthy of the name "Chief." The Arran Chief is quite a distinct variety. The tubers, which cluster closely round the plant, are numerous and of good size, nicely rounded, and have comparatively shallow eyes. Not only so, but they are of the very best quality, and make a splendid table potato. After cooking they can be kept for a day or two, if necessary, and be reheated without showing any tendency to become black. In that respect they resemble the potatoes raised on the soils. This is an exceptional cropping variety, and, one striking and valuable feature is the small proportion of chats and diseased tubers in the produce. Mr William Tod, Pardovan, Linlithgow, a wellknown and much respected farmer, planted five cwt. of the seed of this variety in the spring of last year, and a favoured few saw the crop lifted and weighed. The exact area planted was 1 rood 13 poles (approximately onethird of an acre), and the crop lifted therefrom was four tons thirteen cwt. three.quarters, of which two hundred cwt three quarters —that is, three per cent. —consisted of chats and diseased potatoes. This reprsents a total yield of over fourteen tons per acre. The; potato growing on either side were Oalhousie and ink. Blossoms, and though a splendid crop, were considerably behind Arran Chief in total yield; while the fact that they contained about two tons chats and diseased tubers per acre —that is seventeen per cent. —puts them still further behind. Arrar. Chief is not immune from disease, but very nearly so, be ing infinitely superior to most varieties in that respect. It would seem that this variety has come to say, and ere long we may expect it to be one of the most common in cultivation. — North British Agriculturist.