POTATO-SPRAYING.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9441, 11 May 1909, Page 8

POTATO-SPRAYING.

RESULT OF AN EXPERIMENT

Another demonstration with the object of showing the value of spraying potatoes was arranged some time ago by Mr Macphersoa, of the experimental division of the Agricultural; Department. Five plots were planted on Mr Thos. Davies’ farm at Woodend, Rangiora. One half of each of four plots was manured, and also sprayed with the Bordeaux mixture recommended by the Department; the other half did not receive any manure. No part of the fifth plot was manured. The results of the experiment have just been received by Mr T. W. Kirk, the Government Biologist, and are most interesting to potato growers, showing, as they do, that spraying has bad the effect of increasing the yield of the tubers. The returns are as follows, the figures representing the yields per plot:— !

NO. 1 PLOT. tons cwta. qrs. lbs. Sprayed , 11 13 3 35 Unsprayed 7 9 3 13 Difference 4 3 3 13 NO. 3 PLOT. Sprayed 9 10 3 18 Unsprayed 7 8 1 33 Difference 3 2 1 24 NO. 3 PLOT. Sprayed 13 5 2 7 Unsprayed 7 19 3 9 Difference 4 5 2 26 NO. 4 PLOT. Sprayed 10 16 0 20 Unsprayed 7 16 1 1 Difference 3 19 3 19 NO. 5 PLOT (NO MANURE), Sprayed 7 14 1 7 Unsprayed 6 , 19 3 17 Difference 0 14 1 18