POTATO GROWING.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 207, 26 June 1914, Page 2

POTATO GROWING.

♦ About B ight-proof Tubers. And Need for New Seed. A rectnt visitor to l'ukekohe, Mr J. G. Har/iB, uf Kpetahi, called on the Editor of thi "limes" to have a chat about potato growing. Ke was the guest fir the tiim being of Mr and Mrs Askrw, of thl? tnwn. Mr Harris is the grower of th-> New Era, a potato which it is claimed is blight-proif. Some samples of this new pntato were exhibited in Mr Askew's shop window. Th y were of tine conformation, although the eyes were not as deep set as mo<t growers desire. That defect, however, will be remedied by selection. Threa years ago the New Era wan discovered standing untouched in a blight-stricken field on Mr Harris' farm at Raetahi. It was evidently a "sport"; its leaf is like the Northern Star and the tuber closely resembles the Eldorado. Mr Harris states that in a paddock carrying six varieties tin New Era was the only sort that did not blight. From the "sport" this grower has bred a variety which he claimi to be distinct. Mr Harris has been growing potatoes for many years, and unlike his contemporaries he dues not spray. One of the great needs which Mr Harris sees in potsto growing is the necessity for new sear l . He imports a email quantity each year from the South and from the lesser islands and this new st ck, he fuys, hna a v 17 jng efi'ect en the crcp. He ventured the opiniun that in Pukekohe district me of the weaknesses of the potate-produc-ing business is that Feed h grown and repeatedly in the sane kind of soil which causes weakness and det.rioratiun to aet in. Speakinj as an experienced grower—a specialist and a horbyist he called himself— Mr Harris ventured the opinion that if the growers of this district were to import small parcels of fresh seed each season they would secure much better results.