The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-04-30
HYBRIDIzING POTATOES.
Enormous Prices Paid for Tubers
That Resist Diseases.

According to Frank W. Mahin, United
States Consul at Nottingham, England about
1,20O, 900 acres are devoted to growing pota-
toes in Great Britain, mostly of varieties which
readily succumb to disease and therefore
Yield little profit, and this has led to the pro-
pagation of hybridized disease resisting va
rieties. with remarkable results Archibald
Finday, of Markinch, Scotland, is the origi-
nator of the Eldorado. He has long been an
expert in hybridization of the tuber, and has
heretofore given to the world several varieties
However, every variety of potato, as agricul-
tursts well know. steadily deteriorates in
cropping and disease-resistiug powers till it
reaches point where it can no longer be
proftabIy raised. This point is reached,
growers state, in few years generally, and in
y or Is years at the very utmost. There is,
however, one ''stayer' recorded, which has
been pro6tably yielding now for about 80
years. But the rule is that vigor can be main
tanned only by the constant bringing forward
OF new varieties by cross breeding. Follow
ing this rule Mr. Findlay brought out the Ell
dorado after tests which convinced him that
it had great possibilities. A sample was at
once introduced into Lincolnshire, the pur.
chaser paying MIR. Fiudlay one guinea (S5.ll)
a pound for 1t.
This would seem to be rather high price
for a handful of potatoes, but it is nothing to
what has been realized by subsequent sales in
Lincolnshire from the aforesaid samples. One
of the first recorded sales was of 10 small pc
tatoes weighing about half pound, for el00
(S4S6. 65), or S4S 65 tor each potato At an
auction sale of Il potatoes the aggregate price
realized was e254 los. Isl, 23S. 52). The
prices per potato ranged from IS lS3s. 93) 10
sac S23S.46l. This sac potato weighed 10
ounces The IS uber was about the size of
an average hickory nut
Another case is recorded where one Eidor-
ado poiato-weight not staied-brought ElO0,
and the purchaser Immediately refused goo
for ig--uearly 81 900 This was probably a
very large potato, Tor the record price SO far
paid in Lincolnshire is said to be E4j0 ,
lS5 % for one pound. Even at this prodi-
EioUs prlce-whlch works cut al about IS, 200,
co a ton-lhe purchaser it Is said, expects to
reap big prof, during the coming year.
Of course. u will b- some years before this
potato is marketed rs gu edible. aud mean
time q Is predicted ,is prIcH viii 20 even
higher thnu a. present
II Is calculated lllaI 5n expert hands small
potato ui thl, variety, weighing q couple II
.Hrcr., vii prougcr about - plants. each
welding about ounces, or about 20 pounds
return from , ounces. IL Is relatr, tsat a
tanner near BHSiofs-fh- Lincolnshire -ea
pull--rvalrzcd b hundred Sh-j-Ht ana
pound, frum stugiv stone ~ pounds Of
these pots,u.~. ohrca Indicate, tbsl this poo
tata csu reproduce Itself three hgnlgsiluld .u
~rt.ht eu onr sr4saa-
Tie E.8ofsio IS Hi q kidney shape uHi az
/. i,r,s-H -sraa cstur ssih Hl"tai#lc >bseu
sHd srg+sr, from she foregoing hg4rrs "a be-
Ansfu laaf~ IhaH ls- ~rikh, in gold. l. may
o. saIr3 that 'hrs fabulous vl.a. i 'raeetH.s.
80 r.