POTATO-GROWING

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 30 August 1920, Page 3

POTATO-GROWING

(By -MR WESLEY KNIGHT, of

Tcniuku)

The following is un essay on potato growing, written for the Horo wlicnua Horticultural and Industrial Society and the Otaki Bulb Society by Mr Wesley Knight, of Temuka, for a number of years a resident of thidistrict, and an acknowledged authority on potato growing. The essay was read at a gathering of horticulturists at Otaki on Friday nigh: last.

The potato derives its name from the Spanish “batatas,” a word bo Roved to have been derived in turn from some American Indian language and iirst applied to the sweet potato and it alone, by English writers until ,after about .1660. It was first found in the high valleys of Chili, Mexico, and i’eru, and seems to have been carried to Spain from Peru about loll). It reached Virginia by way ot Florida, brought in by Spanish explorers, and was carried from Virginia to Great Britain by Sir John Hawkins between 1505 and 1570. In 1575 Sir Francis Drake took potatoes from America to England. the introduction of tlio potato into England has been generally attributed to Sir Walter Raleigh, who carried seed from in 15S1. In the following century it was 'cultivated in the Netherlands, Burgundy and Italy, ami in the year 1063 the cultivation was encouraged and recommended bv the Royal Society of London. It has proved itself the most valuable of our food crops, yielding a larger amount pur acre than any other crop. It isaid that an acre will produce enough food for the sustenance of ten people for a year. As we are more interested in the culture than in the history of this undeniably necessary commodity. 1 will proceed in that direction. In the cultivation of the potato to

ensure success quite a number of important points, each a link which tonus a chain, have to be kept constantly in view. I can best demonstrate in this way because any one point neglected is sure to have a serious effect on the ensuing crop either in field or garden. There are, however, three main divisions, namely, soil, seed and cultivation, and to each of those ore attached a number of points in detail. each requiring special attention 1o strengthen the whole. “A chain’: •strength is in its weakest link.” I place the three main divisions in the above order, soil first, for it does not matter what is done in the way oi supplying good seed and cultivation unless the soil is suitable results wi.l not prove satisfactory, evei) t assistance ef a large amount of fertiliser. which in itself will prove expensive and result in an economic loss, q’his does not mean that fertilisers are valueless, but of that more later. Seed must be the second issue to take into consideration', for if T-oor quality ~ used cultivation, however intense, »' be of no value

Cultivation natuially taken lasi place, but in nevertheless of equal importance. Soil may be classed in tv.' divisions, light and heavy; light soil is that ot' a free, loamy nature; hear \ that which has a tendency to cling together in a clayey manner, although not having a clayey appearance. Tim former is preferable to the later, pre suniing it lias the necessary plant food, for the reason that the potato roqmr ing a great amount of labour a free soil allows a much larger area being dealt with in a given time, which is

tin economic consideration; fiom business point of view “cost” must ; always be kept in mind. H«V«vy j means heavy work, and a great deal more work iu an occupation in whu-ij If brain as well as brawn is not use! will result in failure. Generally speak- j jng, however, the potato requires whs. is more commonly known os heavy land: in fact, iu this locality (Tinmru, j potato land is always spoken ot «" heavy land. Whether heavy or Rgh ■ the soil must contain the necessaiv plant food required for this; as for any other plant in this of the three P liufoods, viz., nitrogen, potash and phosphate, the potato must have a fall proportion of potash, consisting largely as it docs of starch. Potash is required to produce this; this is scientific. The writer not being a scientist, gives if for what it is worth. However, in practice it has been found that potatoes require a large amount of potash. Of couse, the other two are necessary also. To discover whether any particular soil is suitable for potato growing tho usual practice is to plant It small area, but if an analysis is made of the soil ancl a fair supply of potash is available it is generally safe to plant. Just here let roe advise anyone going into the business to follow the course of planting a. small area and thereby demonstrate exactly what the soil will do. The writer fell in badly, and in Otaki at that, by not following that course in the flrst instance, fo. even in that renowned locality potatoes will not grow everywhere. Seed. Herein lies a mountain of profit or loss; alas! too often the latter, for unfortunately tubers ore planted, purchased either from merchant or seedsman, both of whom are too often only dehlers. T include seedsmen, for experience has proved that one must be a grower to know good seed from bad in potatoes, and it is only those in tho see<) trade who have been growers personally who can know. I say that without fear of contradiction. Selection of tubers by the practised eye and and is absolutely necessary to ensure

success. Although potato growing is not classed anion as t the arts, the work ot seed selection Is an art m itself, and proficiency can be obtained only by long and varied experience, an:. oy careful noting of results. One <- d -» u given a lend in this matter, but the painter or sculptor ojtjejSTasit study. There are hundreds of varieties of potatoes, and like our “Celestial” neighbours “no two -are alike.” Lake

numerous other plants, different varieties arc required according to the nature of the soil and climatic conditions. In respect to the latter a windy locality demands a plant which has very hardy haulms, for as the plant progresses above ground so docs the tuber exactly correspond. It has often been said if potatoes produce too much top, there will be no bottom". This can invariably be attributed to some foreign cause. In the selection of potatoes for seed, the predominant features of the variety must be known and a faithful endeavour made to maintain the type, round, oval, long, kidney shaped, or whatever it might be; this must be noted and adhered to. This is most important, the potato being a hybrid will sport, one might say, in all directions. It is when this lias not been -attended to that we hear of a potato having run out; in fact, the writer’s opinion is that this is the sole cause, and this opinion is based on the fact that on the farm where he gained his early training potatoes were grown for about 30 years without change of seed or soil, and wore at the end cif that time equal to anything on the dining or show table. The system followed was a given quantity was selected each year as perfect as possible irrespective ot' size, except that those below about 21 inches in diameter were rejected. This lot was retained for stock seed from which the selection was made again the following year. The balance of the product of lirst selection was planted for seed for the following season’s table crop, and of course no seed wits saved from these. Quite a simple procedure and a system followed by the Hutt growers in years gone by (and no doubt still in vogue) when the noted Fluke Kidney and Brown River were the mainstay of Wellington until Inter in the season when the Derwent arrived from South. The question might be asked here why are these varieties not heard of now? The answer is both the Fluke and Brown River were discarded when the “Irish” blight made its appearance, both being badly affected and no longer profitable. The Derwent certainly did run out, no doubt simply because if was assisted iu that direction. Present day varieties respond readily to the same, treatment.

The question of planting whole or cut seed has been debated often, and both systems have adherents; but there is not, nor can there be, a set rule in this. In varieties such as Up-to-date, Dalmeny Beauty, MagnurnBonum, etc., uncut send gives best results for a very simple reason, there being only one eye of any value i:i properly grown seed. 1 will put it in another way: any tuber showing more than one shoot should not be planted; all these produce smaller tubers and a smaller crop. With such varieties as Northern Star or Gamekeeper. New Bra, Rubicund, etc., which produce a number of strong shoots cutting is necessary, even in the smallest sized seed, the object being to have as few haulms as possible, and by so doing secure larger tubers. One has only to examine the different plants at digging time to see what happens when only one or two haulms appear on each plant and compare with those having six or eight, which is quite a common number. For those growing in gardens or only a small area, a good plan is, when too many shoots appear above ground, to pull them; care must be taken, however, not to break them at top of ground, or they will increase ■the trouble. When the plant has made a few inches of growth the roots will prevent the set being disturbed if sluiots are pulled singly. Greening

potato seed is not by any means essential, although advocated by many noted writers. Experience has demonstrated that seed taken from a lategrown crop, which has not been lifted until winter, say .Time, and planted again in August with put “greening"’ gave best result. To green seed pro pcrlv the tubers must be exposed to the air and all possible light for a period long enough fo produce a considerable evaporation of the juices of the potato. Now these juices must be retained to secure the utmost result. Bet me emphasise this: As the juice iu the seed so the tonnage per acre. However, to secure an eariy crop a different course is followed —seed is lifted earlier and placed in shallow boxes or on shelves or floors, or. what is really better, on the bare soil iu the shade of thick growing trees, such as macrocarpa, exposed to all weather except sun and frost. On no account should potatoes either seed or table be exposed to the spn; the skin gives no protection to either the juice or the flesh of the potato against the sun’s rav=. Greening by any of the above methods and for a long enough period (sav two or three months), strong, short, thick shoots develop on all those fit for seed and selection is made easy Thus by planting with *he shoots on it is possible to get a slightly earlier crop. It will be found, however, that late seed just beginning to sprout will give a better crop, and be little, rt anv, later than greened seed. Blindness in Seed.-Of this I need say little. Where long, white, threadlike shoots appear the potato is commonly described as “blind,” and wil. when planted produce nothing. (The final instalment will appear in next issue.)