NOTES ON POTATO CULTURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2717, 23 December 1882, Page 3

NOTES ON POTATO CULTURE.

[From the " Weekly Press."]

The present scarcity of potatoes in our markets points to one of two things, viz., either that sufficient were not grown last season to supply our own wants, or that sufficient care has not been exercised in the storing of the crops when harvested. It may be that shipping during the early season to doubtful markets has lowered the stocks to such an extent as to account for the present dearth. Those who shipped potatoes in large quantities will remember that the speculation turned out any thing but profitable ; in fact, large sums of money have been lost in this trade, for the necessities of growers compel them to glut the market in the early season, and the low prices encouraged merchants to export. Everyone knows the folly of " taking coals to Newcastle," and so it was with potatoes. Large quantities were shipped to Sydney and other markets which were already fully supplied with £the local grown article. Heace the losses referred to. These are lessons which every thoughtful man will profit by. The grower will have learned that when potatoes fall below a certain price it will pay better to store them carefully till early spring, but to prevent losses they must be pitted in such a manner as to be kept free from wet and frost. The old fashioned clamps will be found about the best. We have no means, as yet, of ascertaining the area under potatoes this season, but we have every reason to hope that it will not fall far short of that under the same crop last season. The reports as to the prospects are, so far, encouraging, while, on the other hand, we have heard complaints that the growth of the young plants was not satisfactory, which we suspect may rather be traced to the want of nourishment in the soil than to any fault of the season. In the early days of farming in the colony, while the land was fresh, all that was necessary was to turn the sod over, and drop the sets in every third furrow, the usual result being an abundant crop. We have seen from eight to ten tons per acre grown in this manner. Our friends in the old country would hardly credit this statement, nevertheless it is quite correct. Matters are, however, changing, as the land becomes cropped year after year, with little, or, at least, an imperfect, attempt at rotation, the growing of potatoes is becoming a more difficult matter. Still in Canterbury we have a climate admirably adapted for the growth of all root crops, and of none more so than the potatoe ; but those who attempt its culture without the aid of some stimulant on land which has already been cropped with corn, although it may have been under grass for two or more years, will probably be disappointed in their expectations. If they are so, they will only have themselves to blame. There is no manure better adapted for potatoes than fine crushed bones and superphosphate. Two hundredweight of the latter will be found an ample supply per acre in fairly good land. It may be deposited with the sots at the time of planting, both of which operations may be performed at the same time with machines which may now be had for the purpose. Potato culture was at one time an expensive operation, but now that we have machines for planting, manure distributors, and potato lifters, the cost has been minimised. With these advantages, and a climate second to none for the production of potatoes, it may reasonably be inferred that as soon as our farmers are properly educated up to the most enlightened system of producing this great article of food, we may fairly look forward to its being an export of considerable importance. In India alone there is a market for more potatoes than we are likely to have to spare for a long time. Now that we have the means of preserving a cold temperature in the storerooms of ships, there is no reason why we should not open up this lucrative trade. We need not here enter into the methods of planting potatoes, as we may safely conclude that our farmers will, in their own interests, adopt the best methods. But we would wish particularly to refer to the kind of seed used, so that we may not suffer loss but may produce a first-class potato which will satisfy the consumers by giving them an article wnich cannot be surpassed in quality. We feel certain that this can be done if proper steps be taken. We would advise that an entirely new importation of picked seed should be procured. The seed used by the most experienced farmers in the noted potato-producing districts of Tasmania and Australia is the finest-looking potato, while the objection to small potatoes for seed is that most of the bad sorts run to small ones, irregularly shaped, deepeyed, yellow, and lined witli blue streaks when cut. These are the true signs of degeneration of the very worst form, and they get from bad to worse. The seed recommended by the most' practical potato farmers is a potato about the size of a large duck's egg, and of the same shape. We would always select nicely-shaped potatoes for seed, and would avoid irregularly formed ones, and those, as mentioned above, with deep eyes, or with blue streaks running through them. We would particularly wish to dwell on the matter ol good seed, for how seldom do we see a really good potato. This is only th« natural result of inattention to the seed The same kind of experience was felt ir some of the other colonies in their earlj producing days, when their inattention ir this respect was severely paid for. Potatoes not only require a constant change o: seed, but care must be taken that none bin the best and purest sets are used. Wc have seen many experiments tried wit! large and small sets, but we are stauncl supporters of the theory which holds tha' " Like produces like."