POTATO-GROWING.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 1 September 1920, Page 4

POTATO-GROWING.

(Concluded.) (By MB WESLEY KNIGHT, of Temuku.) : Cultivation. This can best be summed up in one word: intense. The most important work in tlie cultivation of the potato begins with the turn of the first furrow in field or of the spade in garden, ft is not possible to grow potatoes successfully unless the soil is thoroughly and deeply worked before planting, for then the whole of the soil can be properly treated, all utter treatment being in restricted areas. . Plough deep.'or dig deep. Hbw deep:' i As deep as one can get; there is i ■<> j danger of going too deep—there o I neither plough nor spade made that I will find the bottom. The good sunsweetened soil is turned down where ifie roots which feed the plants go; the bottom poor soil'(if any) comes to tie 1 lop. and anything does to protect the tubers from the suit, it has been said that even sawdust would do on too. start deep, and discing, harrowing or whatever is necessary in the way t.l after work is much easier to do and wilt be, much better done. In field work it. is usual to plough two or three times, the last ploughing being l Le deep one. After planting, the ground should be harrowed just before the plants eonTe up. to destroy any weed seedlings an I loosen ilic surface. This should be done again just after the crop comes up. say, two inches high. This should he done when the soil is finite dry, and, I if possible, no a sunny day. There'it: ■ no danger of damage either from horses or harrows, either going with the rows or across them; crossing generally ■•if cs best results. I’.■•tween the row cultivation should eoninieace as soon as the rows are dislincl and should continue as often as 1],,, state of the soil and weeds demand. I’hrie is no limit to the number of times the horse-hoe, or in the garden the hand-hoe. should go over the ground. It pays not to count, but to keep going if the soil is hard, as is often the case in the spring after heavy

rain: there is no rule of thumb about potato growing, conditions vary with the seasons. After heavy rain and while the soil is still wet, however bright the day. keep off the potato patch; when the soil is drv and in goo ! working order keep oft everything else. As the croj) grows the soil must lie drawn up to the plants; in other words, mould up as they grow, getting the soil right it]) to rho plants, 1 lit; furrows deeper and the hanks higher each lime, finishing not before the haulms an nearly meeting. As the furrows get deeper the soil nearest the plants natui:illv dues not get disturbed and no damage is # donc by keeping the work going as long .as possible. By follow ing the above system it is not neces snrv to use the hand hoe in field work, the wcimls are kept down by the harrows in the first' place, and as the emp grows bv smothering as the moulding is done, after which a good crop of potatoes will so cover the ground, it is not possible for weeds* to give any 1 rouble. Width between rows and sets: This is a variable quantity, and is decided bv the variety planted. In varieties which have only a few tubers on each set about twelve inches < not less) apart

nd .the rows two feet six inch

j apart, with vatietio which have a i/great number of tubers on each set from fifteen to eighteen inches and the rows not less than two feet nine inches. The reason for the greater j space being the number of tubers pro

duced on each rout if not given plenty of room will tin rurally be much smaller

A common complaint heard with reference to Northern Star, particularly when introduced, was that it had too mauv small ones. The old system of

plant ittix close together had to b changed for this and also for a nuiubo of other recent productions. Treatment of such before plantin

by dipping in formalin or anything that nature, is best dealt with by s: lug that in practice it. like the p

verbial “hot potato,” ,is soon droppe Alt'" benefit derived is small. Th

applies also to spraying while the pot toes are growing. Ido not exactly eo

demn either method, but recommend growing blight-resisting varieties, of which there are quite enough to supply oil our requirements. When storing potatoes for table use,

they should be left in the ground until quite ripe. This will be shown by the haulms becoming quite dry aua hard, and when pulled having a short, blunt

j end with all the roots uecaved. A coo! j and only moderately dry and nearly ■ dark place should be used as a store. Pitting should not be done in a mild climate: the conditions are so near to • those under which potatoes are grown, sprouting starts apace and the tuber, j develop an earthy taste. Varieties best to plant is a question . each grower has to decide for himself. | All soils are not alike, nor is the comj position of the tuber alike in all cases, i We hear the terms “floury” or “waxy” used. Soil has something to ’ do with iliis. pome varieties are 1 “waxy” until fully matured. Fer- • tilisers have a say also; for instance, if potash is used in the form ox muriate. which contains chloride, “waxy’ ' potatoes are produced. Perhaps the worst form of this fertiliser is the familiar kafnit: but if sulphate of potash is used, or when obtainable wood ashes-, quite the. reverse is the; result. An instance of this I have by me oi a farmer of Southland on using 2e.wt per aert? £>l kainit produced trely unsaleable potatoes. .We often hear of varieties being praised in one local- 1 ity and condemned in another. Some soils have an overabundance or chlorides and would be better used for come other crop—mangolds, for instance. This demonstrates tow neces- j sary it is when trying a new variety on new land to plant only small areas to prove either. Trying a new variety* or one with which the grower is not

acquainted. To carry this out successfully the trial must extend over a period of two or more years; to set any two varieties off on an equal footing they must first be planted together. Seed obtained from an outside source will have been grown onder different conditions, either planted at a different time to its competitor or a change of climatic conditions, or soil may have some effect on the seed. The first year’s operation adjusts this is nearly as possible; the second season then gives an opportunity of. testing their respective merits—often a new varicty is condemned on an unfair trial. I have endeavoured to show how necessary it is to adhere to certain principles to successfully grow this alii mport-ant factor in our food supply. Possibly no other item of equal importance is so susceptible to climatic conditions as the potato; in climatic conditions we arc dealing- with nature, and nature commands respect above all things, demanding an eye for an eye. respecting as she is respected, accepting and responding to our assistance, and scorning our indilfereuce and neglect. We must therefore observe the natural tendencies of the plant and its product, guiding with care any change to suit our requirements.