THE NEW SEEDLING POTATO, VICTORIA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1033, 12 August 1879, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE NEW SEEDLING POTATO, VICTORIA.

'fylnry Town- it tut Country Journal.) Tliis is an extremely handsome, tine, -'■'itli-skinmtd, and oven-shaped white ''Mo, mimed by Mr. DannicliiFe, «>: yvrsprinj;, Burrawanj*,. from seed saved "> tlm noted American potato, " Acme" "ilised by pollen gathered from the al'y celebrated and still better known •rii'iin Snow flake." The cross has jailed in a splendid variety, which has named Victoria, and which goe* a •* way to watt fa justifying an opinion '** t'Xpri'Sßed in, these columns :ia to the that by earefnt attention to ""'ii!.: seedling potatoes, and exercising a I^'T f r system of crossing and brending we i>o able tt'H lon a to aonel to the '.f| breedera- of the United States, jr. I »for the many fine- wmttw for * ~e art; indebted to them, varieties surprise them, j." ton id indeed bo hard to surpass the in the perfection of its sise. form. "I'lierat appearance. To those win. if* luy knowledge of, the tint* potatoes «!iicli the Victoria lias been raised it, :Hu understood, when it is stated that "V'bji'ot of the raiser was to originate a % pOHseasinir the good qualities* of "mother with the admirable '"Wal appearance of the male parent 1 . Acme" (th# female par9n't),atthongh ;"W-clnns quality,. is a rather mrsighily shaped tuber ; while the " iStinw- !'® (male) is very handsome- irv every .J;. t '" , ngh hardly equal in quality to . Acme," In this aim, the cross, now Wniiti«p r shows snccess. We were on favored, by the grower, with a & tho Victoria, and can say that its highly satisfactory. It is of ' u 'lt flavor, aud th« tteß,h is fitly I?"''' Those ;Vho lootc npoft delicacy av ° l '» iinu texture, and a beautiful

appearance of the potato, when placed upon the dinner table, will be delighted with the Victoria. Those, however, who are unable to appreciate delicacy, flavor, and the other excellencies, to choice varieties, and consider nothing but dryness, rui'atinesM, or thmrines*, as the quality to hn appreciated, will probably not give so high a ptaeo to this potato aa it deserves. nraa those of better or a more retin- d taste will accord to it. The tubers which we tried were cooked by steaming. and when placed on our table seemed to us to l>e perfection- rather under than over th--proper amount <"f rtieatine.w. and wo wernot in the flavor. Ltke allj high ci;<r..i table if. from this one trial, be it remeni'ereu. that the Victoria "'ill ne»"! e;tr» fn< cwKHur. ;u in fact all kind.* do. bur im-rv e.-peivU.. those of delicate and tine grained Itesti. Ft v;ill not do to put such in'" cold water to wash them and leave thein there h''"' ' before the time for cooking arrues. m*• tniist be cooked in a sensible manner, 'either steamed in a steamer, or cooked m a saucepan, with a small quantity of water, boiling before the tubers, arc placed m it. Karlymaturity is another point of excellence in which Mr. D. claims superiority , tor his seedling over its female parent: and in our uncertain climate a potato that develops rapidlv and matures in a few weeks after planum? has much to recommend ir. for culture where ram is so rrre"utar. With srreh a quality a crop may often b- snatched in a dry season, while others of ordinary duration might prove partial or total failures. .i' grower staten that his l:v>t crop iu tie' Victoria yielded at the rate of -i toji-> to the acre. Wu hope the example set by ..ir. Dtmtilclilfe will induce many growers t<» turn their attention, if nor. t»> the raising ■ft' new- and improv d sorts, at least t>> trie culture of the best and purest kinds, instead of the haphazard plan so generally pursued. The yield per acre of the eotony is not inueti over two tons. that, of Victoria about the same : it would therefore be of great importance In a public point of view if our fanner* would adopt, all means t»> ine:'e.i.-u: theyielr;.of tii is i'.s well as those of all ether standard crops.