Treatment of Potato Blight.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 June 1910, Page 4

Treatment of Potato Blight.

« —• — The efficacy of systematic spraying with ft proper mixlture as a preventive of tlie dreaded potato blight has (says Oropuki Advocate) received ample demonstration this seasoil, on Mr John florrell's farm at Te Tan. Tlio soil otf the terraces in the lower basin of the Waiau and along the Western fooitihills of the T-ongwood is probably the finest in New Zealand for potato culture, the crops of the .tubers as regards quality and quantity feeing second to none. For several years, shipments of Te Tau potatoes have been findling their way to Northern markets, "ind in tlie estimation of buyers hold high rank. Tlie n<roii planted has extended year by year, unitil the crop is looked upon as one of tlie Samples ot tlie ntid capable of great expansion. Tlie importance of tbe crop to the farmer and to Mie whole district ran scarcely be over estimated, and everything tlhat is essential to success : should lie eagerly seized upon and systematical I v applied. Despite favourable climatic. conditions and a soil specially adapted ■for growing potatoes to perfecfKoii, disappointment, if not disaster, is fast becoming the rule instead of tbf> exception. It is perfectly clear + bat the blight scourge bias bath feet firmly planted in the district,, and must be reckoned wiltli in deadly earnest if a promising industry is to be saved from total extinction. I ; nifoiitfunatoly, at the first a.npeiar "nfo of the eiiiemv tbe efforts of the > , fnrme v '<! to bea£ it were unavailing 011 account of using a weak solution, prescribed, we 1 understand, by the Department of Agriculture. As the sprayed crops fared 'is ns the unsiprayed, farmers !at a process which cost time and money without commensurate benefit, and, naiturally, spraying lias fallen into disrepute. Farmers generally have been trusting to luck or other unreliable allies, and the result is that the enemy is strongly entrenched, and threatens to become master of the situation. Messrs Horrell Jiros., howeve/r, have been determined l to put up a good fight from the outset, and this seaw.it they have succeeded in coming out on top. Using a solution recommended T>v the Antrim School of Agriculture—and which, 'by the way,"is double the strength of the Xew Zealand mixture—the resmlt is a magnificent 15ton crop of excellent potatoes, free from 'blight. One or two rows which escaped the sprayer are completely destroyed. Horrell Bros, have been amply repaid for ouitlay and labour and the lesson is one wlhie/h tlie whole district should take to heart, if the business is to be lifted out of the region of chance and become, as it ought to he, a certain and reliable source of revenue. Tlie output frnm ifhe di<tfrift would he doubled in one year, and cash receipts likewise.