BLIGHT IN POTATOES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2641, 11 December 1915, Page 11

BLIGHT IN POTATOES

VERY BAD THIS SEASON. Potatoes, ; it is stated, are likely to steadily advance in price rather than recede befcwen this and the end of the year. Inquiries made ■yesterday, indicate that the reason for this reverse of the usual order is the prevalence of the Irish blight, which' all the aids of science I do not seem able to oradicate alto- , gether from our crops. It may in dry seasons remain passive in the soil, but with ■ anything, like a wet or broken spring and early summer it scarcely ever fails to show up. This year, it is I stated to be worse than for some time past,' and: reports .from potato-growing districts'-in- the vicinity , of- Wellington are the reverse of favourable. The blight is very bad in the Hutfc district, where an unusually ■ fine .Iridney potato is grown. One farmer in the Waiwetu district recently dug up a crop from & I paddock which ordinarily would yield from 12 to 14 tons of potatoes, but all he -was able to market was two tons. The blight is also being rather severely felt in the Otaki district, Hawke's Bay, and .in Marlborough, occasioned, or rather developed, without doubt' by the queer weather that has prevailed in Wellington during the past month, and which shows no sign of improvement. Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus W.' Smith returned from England by 6.5. Remuera, and are staying here for a short time. [ TKe annual concert of the pupils of [ the Mount Cook School, given on Thurs- | day evening in St. Mark's Schoolroom, [ was repeated last evening, and again drew a good audience of parents and friends. The various items upon the programme were much appreciated, especially the .part-singing - of the boys. Mr. Blake,'. iirst-assistant master; '■ pre-; sided, and before • the concert ended Mr. Bary, the headmaster, made a brief speech, thanking all outside performers who had assisted on both occasions. , A handsome cake which lias been presented by Mrs. Manson is on view'in Messrs. Nimmo'a warehouse, Kent Terrace,' and is to be raffled in aid of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund 'on December 20 by the Mayor. Tickets may be obtained at Mr. Nimmo's building. The engagement is announced of Miss Evelyn Henderson, youngest daughter of the late Mr. Henry Beveridge Henderson, and of Mrs. Henderson, of Thorndon, to Mr. Reginald Heath Vincent, eldest, son, of the lato Mr. R, H. Vincent, and'of Mrs. Vincent, of Goldie's Brae. On October 6, at Holy Trinity Church, Windsor (England), the. marriage took place of. Captain Charles' Ralph CampSecond Life Guards, 6on of Sir Charles and Lady Campbell, Cheviot, New Zealand, to Miss Nancy Sarah Chapman, only daughter of the late Mr. Edward Chapman and Mrs. M. Dampier-Crosely, Canterbury (N.Z.). Wedding Announcement.—Beautiful roses and the choicest of (lowers only are used when 1 designing wedding bouquets, which I make a speciality of. Packed and forwarded through the Dominion. Miss Murray. Vice-Begal Floriste, 36 Willis Street.—Advt. - V '