POTATO CERTIFICATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40016, 29 October 1929, Page 3

POTATO CERTIFICATION.

The Agricultural Department’s scheme of potato certification is proving very popular amongst Canterbury farmers. M an y °£ them find that they grew potatoes that were giving them only 'half the crop which was possible if they had seed of high cropping power. In the Department’s experimental farm at Ashburton this year, about 325 different lines of potatoes have been planted in connection with the certification of the crop. All these are from Canterbury, except six lines sent from Marlborough. Last yeatr about 170 lines were entered from Canterbury. Farmers had to send 100 representative seeds of their potatoes for planting on the experimental farm. These lots are used as a, control for comparison with the farmers’ commercial crops. Plots on the 'farm are kept under close observation during the growing season. ; All virus and other diseases are noted.. Later, when the potatoes are dug, there is a elosc examination of the tubers. The farmers’ potatoes arc also examined at two field inspeelions and at tuber inspections after the potatoes are dug. In this way a retry careful measure of inspection tis possible.