CERTIFICATION OF POTATOES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22506, 14 September 1938, Page 15

CERTIFICATION OF POTATOES

ENTRIES CLOSE SHORTLY “Entries are now being received by the Department of Agriculture for the certification of potatoes this year,” the District Superintendent of the Fields Division of the department (Mr R. McGillivray) told “The Press” in an interview yesterday. Mr McGillivray said that entries were coming m quite freely and remarked that it would be necessary for all growers to have their entries in by September 20 if they wished to avoid a late fee, “Application should be made by growers to officers of the Department Sf Agriculture, and all should be accompanied by a sample trial fee ox 10s,” he continued. Any new grower entering in certification would have to purchase mother seed, as a person buying certified commercial seed would not be eligible for entry in certification. However, a grower of certified seed in the commercial class this season would be eligible for entry in certification this year, and it would depend on the standard of this years crop where he would be placed next season. , Mr McGillivray mentioned the great benefit that potato certification had been to the potato grower. Certified seed had definitely proved to be of much higher cropping power than ordinary uncertified seed, he said. “I consider it will not be very long before all potatoes grown will be the progeny of certified crops,’’ he concluded. JERSEY SALE GOOD LEVEL OF PRICES The fourth annual sale of registered pedigree cattle, on account of Mr W H. Jakins, Landsdowne, Halswell, was conducted on Monday, September 12 by H. Matson and Co. The attendance was not a large one, but it was apparent at the commencement of the sale that those present were there to do business as competition from the outset was keen. Twen-ty-two heifers and cows averaged 17 guineas, and two bulls, 12 guineas and 10 guineas respectively. Most of the cattle on offer were due to calve in September and. October, having been mated with bulls of high butter-fat backing.

The storm of 10 or 12 days ago caused fairly heavy losses amongst early lambing flocks in the Ashburton district. Lambing is well under way in the coastal districts the first week in September and with the water lying in the paddocks and the intense cold lambs dropped had not much chance of surviving unless promptly attended to. Several farmers lost from 30 to 40, and in odd cases up to 60, and one case is reported of 100 succumbing.