Subscribe now

Letter: Letters : Spud test

Published 5 July 1997

From R. J. Morley

Witham, Essex

The letter on tasteless potatoes (Letters, 17 May, p 51)
reminded me of the
time when I joined ICI at Billingham in 1935. The story going round was of an
enthusiastic member of the research department reporting the results of tests
which showed the considerable increase in the yield of potatoes by the use of
fertilisers.

The researcher was halted by the chairman Alexander Fleck (later Lord Fleck),
who asked in his broad Scottish accent: “But do they make guid chips?”

Issue no. 2089 published 5 July 1997

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop