GROWING POTATOES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3137, 16 July 1917, Page 8

GROWING POTATOES

AIAYOIi ISSUES A. CJ.ItCIiUIi. Altlioiigh nothing tuuio tif tho lrwvenii'iit to iilaut liotalocrf at Miranmr a Uuud deal of inlonnation was gathered which should bo of valuo to tlioso difi[rased to grow potatoes in their own or on communistic plots of ground. Tho obstaclo in Wellingtou appeared to ho tho lack of largo areas of land suitable to tho cuTture of tlio ptato, and Ihs doubt as to whether, if only grown in dinall patches, it would really 1)0 an ci:«nomical liiovement, Tho Mayor, howevor, is of ojiiniou that, with the rising prico of t'ooiistult's, it would ho wiso for tlioji) with this necessary land ami lime to plant potatoes, and in order lo assist IJuiHO who may not ,ho skilled in tl'is branch of agriculture lie has issued the following "Brief Directions for Growing Potatoes in Small Allotments":— "All arailablo plots of land should be deeply duff, buryinfrall vegetation except docks, couch, and sorrel. These should be carefully forked out and burnt, returning thu ashes to the soil. Jn iligtfinj; tne land tlio surfaco should be jelt as rough as possible, so as to expose as iniieh <is possible to tho weather, care beinj; taken that tlio surfaco is not trodden on. It should remain thus ULtil Igniting time. "It is strongly recommended that late grown local seed be procured in all oases. Tho following variation are recommended: For the first planting LTp-to-Date, followed by White Elephant, Gamekeqier, and Maori Chief. Seed should be procured as early as possible, and spread out thinly in shallow boxes; these should bo kept outside in a sheltered -position. At planting time Ihese should have sturdy growths about a quarter of an inch long; any showing more than four growths can bo divided, leaving at least two on each section. 'Tor first crop from August 1 to middle September. It is better to delay planting a few days than .to work tiio laud iu wot weather. • The land having been dug previously should just prior to planting be forked or dug 07or ab-;ut two-thirds the depth of tho first digging;, "care being taken not to bring to tho surface any undecayed vegetable matter.

"Drills should he opened four or iivo inches deep and tho artificial manure (Special Potato Mixture) sown in those, about an ordinaiy handful to tho yard of drill; the seta should then bo placed in tho drills about U inches apart, and covered with the soil which was drawn out. Bows should lie two feet tfcreo ,iuche3 apart, an oxtra three- inches being allowed the stronger growing varieties (Gamekeeper and Maori Chief). Phould any 6et throw up moro than three growths, pull out tho extra ones. JLloeing should bo commenced as soon as tho growths appear through the Ground, and continued at frequent intervals.

"Earthing up should bo done v:lew tho growths nro about one foot in height. As a precaution against blight the growths should ho sprayed when about three inches high, and again when abojrt six inches. In a favourable season this should be sufficient to protect them. If the season is humid it would bo wife to continue tho spraying at intervals of ten days. Tho variety TJp-to-'D.ito is rr.ore subject to Wight than, tho others recommended. In a favourable season tho other varieties can. bo grown ir. Wellington without any spraying."-