TE KUITI SCHOOL GARDEN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 590, 2 August 1913, Page 5

TE KUITI SCHOOL GARDEN.

POTATO MANURIAL EXPPERIMENT.

The following are the results of the potato manurial experiments carried out in the Te Kuiti school gardens dur-

ing the past season. The aoil in which tbe experiments were made was the ordinary pumice soil common in the flat parts of this valley. By way of preparation the ground was dug over during the winter and sown in oats which were subsequently dug in as green manure. The results of the experiments plainly show the value of basic slag aB a fertliser on the pumice lands. The Northern Star potato was used throughout the testa. Manures and results are given at per acre. From these it will be seen that the manurial mixtures containing basic slag have given the best results; while kainit, which is a natural potato manure, proved almost valueless. In other localities where basic slag has been tried with potatoes it has given the same good results: ; — Plot I.—'Manure: super. 3 cwt., basic slag 3 cwt: weight per acre: 10 tons 9 cwt. 0 qrs 221bs: percentage of small, 10.

Plot 2. —Manure: Special potato 4 cwt., basic slag 2 cwt: weight per acre: 9 ton? 2 cwt. 2 qrs 201bs: percentage of small, 12J. Plot 3. —Manure: Basic slag 6 cwt., lime 2 cwt: weight per acre: 8 tons 10 cwt. 3 qrs 16ibs: percentage of small, 14J. Plot 4. —Manure: Kanit 3 cwt., blood and bone 3 cwt.: weight per acre: 8 tons 16 cwt. 3qrs 41b: percentage of small, 2Si. Plot s.—Manure: Kainit 3 cwt basic slag 3 cwt: weight per acre: 7 tons 19 cwt. Oqrs 121b: percentage of small, 30. Plot 6. —Manure: Kainit 3cwt., super. 3 cwt.: weight per acre: 6 tons 15 cwt 2qrs 4ibs: percentage of small, 20. Plot 7. Manure: None: weight per acre: 5 tons 11 cwt 3qrs 241b: percentage of small, 20. Plot 8. Manure Kainit 6: cwt.: weight per a;re: 3 tons 10 cwt. 2qrs 2 41b.: percentage of small, 60. POTATO VARIETY TEST.

In the variety test, eight varieties were used, and they were all sown with 8 cwt of special, manure to the acre. The results per acre are given below :

Gold Coin, 13 tons 8 cwt 0 qrs 201bs; Northern Star, 10 tons 0 cwt 1 qr 211b; Irish Queen, 8 tons 16 cwt 13 qrs 41bs; Early Puritan, 7 tons 13 cwt 0 qrs 241b; Robin Adair, 7 tons 1 cwt 1 qr 201b; Gamekeeper, 5 tons 11 cwt 3qrs 241b; Up-to-date, 5 tons Ocwt Oqr-5 201bs; Early Rose, 4 tons 15 cwt 3qrs lib.