THE POTATO MARKET.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1722, 12 April 1913, Page 10

THE POTATO MARKET.

•J - WHAT AEE THE FUTURE PROS- ' ' V ' PECTS? Tho local markets havo been rery well supplied with potatoes from tho South Island during the past week or bo, and values have, if anything, cased slightly, yesterday's quotations.being -EG to JE6 10s. per ton. In conversation yesterday with a representative of The Dominion, a local merchant remarked that to his mind tho Indications were for a further decrease in tho near future, after which prices would a'gain advance. Reports from Australia, according to'the merchant in question, pointed to jiigher values ruling on -the late market, hs the Queensland supplies - nrs'- now.- - finished, 1 ' and New ■ South-Wales Imerchants are drawing • very heavily on Tasmania for their present supplies, but immediately the latter colony's crop ia done a demand for New Zealand tubers will doubtless 6et in from Australia, andi values should then increase considerably. Bearing in mind the fancy prices realised last year as a result of. the Australian demand, growers will certainly welcome another such season. . . NEW SPECIES OF GRASS GRUB PEST OP SEEDLING FOREST TREES. A new species of• grass-grub '.has• been unearthed by Mr. A. H. Cockayne, .Government 'biologist/ According to ' Mr. Cockayno a .considerable loss is annually • sustained in. tlip seedling-beds at the State forestry nurseries through the roots of the young trees being destroyed by the larvao of certain species of grass-grubs. The biologist was under tho impression that the 'damage was' occasioned by tho ordinary. grass-grub (Odontria zealandica), so well known in New Zealand on account of its very serious effect on pastures. A visit to tho Whakarowarowa State Nursery ini tho second week of last December, however, showed conclusively that tho insect damaging the seedling, trees at that nursery was' not 0. zealandica, as full-grown larvae were abundant in the larch-beds at that date. If the damage had been due to 0. zealandica there would have been very few larvae present, as noxmally the majority would have'pupated and emerged during tho latter part of November. No method for distinguishing the various species of grass-grubs while in the larvae or grub stiigo has yet been worked out, so it was necessary*- to wait till the beetles emerged before the 6pecies could bo ascertained. From tho size of the grubs they were thought to belong to ono of the larger species, such as 0. sandageri or 0. striata. On January 27 and 31 a fine series of the beetles collected ;in the ground-before they had taken to/tho wing: was received by Mr.-Cockayne, from Mr. H. A. Goudie, Superintending Nurseryman of. the Forestry Branch of;tho Lands and Survey Department. Being unablo to determino the ."species, I sent specimens toMajor Thomas Broun, the well-known coleopterist,' who decided tliey belonged to a new species, and named it Odontria puncticollis, Mr. Cockayno states that it is a _ matter of great importanco to determine what are tho species (hat are causing damage in tho southern nurseries, as until that is known nnd their life histories aro worked out it is useless to endeavour to formulate control measures. Tho following data aro urgently required with regard to Odontria puncticollis(l) Dates of emergence of the beetles. (2) Crops in which egg-laying takes place. (3) Length of time tho grubs remain in tho larvao-condition. ■ (4) Food-plants of tho adult beetles. (5) Food-plants of tho grabs. (6) Efl'cct of firc3 in destroying tho beetles. (7) Effect of spraying and application of soil-fumigants—(ii), poison sprays, (b) deterrent sprays, (c) soil-fumi-gation. , ■ 1 ■ When reliable data under theso headings havo been secured a satisfactory method of control should bo ablo to bo devised so far as protecting tlie trees is concerned. This is extremely important, because this insect is greatly increasing the cost of tho production of certain trees, notably tho larch. Any reduction in the cost of tho raising of trees is.of fundamental importanco in forestry, and this is especially true of species with'a long rotation. ."Good advico IB beyond price,"' therefore every cheeso factory mannger will appreciate the advico which will enable him to make tho finest quality cheese; also to bring his factory in lino with the big dividend paying concerns. Instal "Victor" Vats in place of those old fashioned inefficient Vats you aro Tho "Victor" Vat witli .its sloping bottom- nnd centre drain ensures that overy drop of whey will run freely, leaving .tho curds high nnd dry, thus producing clioeso of superior quality, which means higher prices and larger profits. Instal "Victor" Vats is our advice. Writo for particulars to Albert J. Parton, Plumber, Carterton.—Advt. A' dairy farm of 285 acres, situated 4."> miles north of Auckland, is advertised for sale by Messrs. Hansen and Geraghty, Auckland. Particulars appear in tile iMlvnrlJaotupni which ia in auuUvr tolumii , of lau 1&SU&