POTATOES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 7 October 1880, Page 2

POTATOES.

We understand that potatoes are being extensively planted this season in various parts of Waikato, the increased facilities for transport having induced the farmers to turn their attention to that crop. It is a matter of great importance that firstclass seed should be chosen. There can be little doubt but that the using of the same class of seed without variation yearafter year was the main cause of the recent potato famine in Ireland. The Relief Committee distributed the best seed potatoes from England and Scotland amongst the poverty-stricken peasantry, and the result been in the highest degree satisfactory. This year's crop/ is perhaps the finest known within the memory of the present generation of Irishmen. Too much care cannot be given-to introducing the best sampled of foreign seed from time

[to time. Potatoes are greatly 0 v stocked at the present time in. J|!> 4 market, and, as a rule, they are v inferior This is especially to Canterbury produce. Parcels hn changed hands at 32s 6d, and a for line was withdrawn at auction y eat ® 9 day at 30s. A produce merchant *l* is an extensive importer remarked tV?° other day,'that the introduction of n seed into Canterbury is much needed* Potatoes of good quality still command remunerative price ; thus Oamaru- OTn J! fetch from L 4 to L 4 53 in quantity and retail lots are readily disposed of at Lf> A considerable line of Waikato potato was offered a day or two ago, but th & , auctioneer could not get what he coi£ sidered a fair offer, and was placed in . dilemma; but as he considered thev would not keep at this advanced stage of the season, and seeing no prospect <>f improvement in the market, he disposed! of them at prices ranging from L2 to Ift 10s. That potatoes would prove a remunerative crop under proper manage ment is a justifiable inference. The season in Auckland is from one to three months earlier than in the Southern Island, and large quantities can be pr 0 . fitably exported at that time, before the new season's crop is ready there, and the> remains of the former year's production have so far deteriorated as to be purchased for table use when none better areprocurable.—New Zealand Herald,