ON THE FARMS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 241, 23 October 1914, Page 1

ON THE FARMS.

ABOUT PUKEKOHE HILL NOTES BY "AGRICOLA." Early planting of potatoes and other spring crops has now become a recognised part of farming at Pukekobe. In the production of the very earliest potatoes, market garden produce, and small crops which filter through to southern towns, that part of the district known as the "Hill" has become renowned, and in order to obtain authentic information concerning the crops under cultivation this season, 1 made a detour last week of a good part of the area within, and adjacent to, that part of the district under review. The limited time at my disposal did not permit of my calling at each and every homestead, so that any I was unable to visit will perhaps be good enough to not attribute to me the sin of omission. In addition to areas and other main points at issue quite a good volume of information outsids the scope of this article W9S furnished me, which will be dealt with from time to time in these columns as opportunity and space offers. DEEP CULTIVATION: SEED SELECTION. Some nine acres of potatoes were in evidence at one of the first places I called upon, and the entire crop presented a splendid, healthy, growy appearance. Two acres of the area was growing in ground which had been planted with potatoes three times in succession. And the splendid growth made by this portion, quite equal to the appearance displayed by the remainder of the crop—together with the fact that the owner intends replanting the same plot almost directly the produce is dug-prompted me to enquire how it was possible to grow the same variety of crop successively so many times and obtain such magnificent results, without having resource to a change of crop, or rotation of crops. The owner, who desired that his name should not appear in print, but whom, to establish the' bonafides of this paragraph, agreed that his identity could, if required, be ascertained at the office of the "Times," attributed the result achieved to two factors, viz., the deep and thorough cultivation of the land, and the judicious and systematic selection of the seed. Directly a crop was harvested by him, the plough was immediately got to work and other implement work was carried out at intervals until the lard was again required for the following crop, this course ensuring the ground kept absolutely free of weeds, and at the same tim-J, maintaining it in a loose, beautiful tilth. In lieu of taking the best shaped tubers for seed purposes, as is generally done, this grower selects the seed required by him from such roots among the crop showing the strongest and most vigorous haulms only. The method adopted by him is to place the required roots to one side at the time of digging, and the tubers of these roots, even though they may be larger and less shapely than the ordinary seed size, are the seed he pins his faith to, and plants- for the ensuing crop. He maintains that this mode of selection is of paramount import, his opinion being that the use of such seed renders it quite possible to grow crops without fear of deterioration from the same strain of potato for an extended period covering four to five yeara. Of the three crops grown and referred to above, I was informed that the first was set early in July of last year, and digging was undertaken in the latter part of November, some seven to eight tons per acre being harvested. The next planting followed during the first week in December, the crop, averaging 9 ton 13cwt per acre, being taken up early in April this year. On the 28th May the present crop was put in, and at the time of my visit a commencement was being made with digging, the tubers I saw turned out revealing the fact that a fairly gocd crop v. as again the order. It i 9 intended to again plant the area at the end of the current month, with the autumn crop, which the

owner hoped to dig at the end of March. Should this successfully eventuate, this plot of ground will have furnished the four crops in the shcrt space of ony year and nine months, which musf ue regarded as a most satisfactory achievement, and affords a convincing testimony to the potentialities cf I'ukckohe land farmed on systematic lines. The varieties grown by this farmer are Gamekeeper and Northern Star, the present crop comprising eix acres of the firmer, and three acres cf the latter variety. Manure to the tune of 15 cwt per acre in the following ratio, viz., 10 cwt cf specially ground fine bonedust and 5 cwt of A superhosphate were applied to the ground at the time of planting, and the crop has been sprayed in all, three times. MR P. MILLER'S HOLDING. On the ten-acre holding belonging to Mr P. Miller a varistv of crops was displayed, in spite of the dry condition of the ground. 1c was quite apparent from the wealth of foliage and general appearance of the'ctops, together with the wellkept appearance of the grounds, that the Lwner is no novice at the market-gardening business. Of five acres planted with Gamekeeper potatoes about 1} acres has been dug since the beginning of the present month, and the product, which has all been despatched by Mr Miller to the Wellington market, has realised very satisfactory prices, the first and second consignments, sold respectively on the 3rd and 7th inst., having fetched 3}d per lb, or £3O 6s 8d per ton, and the third consignment 3d per lb, or £2B per ton, delivery made in Wellington, The returns from two following lots despatched were not to hand at the time of my visit. Four tons of potato's were obtained from the plot dug, planting have been made in the middle of May. A different dressing of manure is given by Mr Miller to the first and earliest potato crops than that applied to the main later areas, and again another variety of artificial manure is given to the summer-planted, or autumn seed, crop. To the first planted crop an application of 15 cwt. to the acre is made, the mixture being:—Ten cwt. pure bonedust, 4 cwt. superphosphate. 1 cwt. sulphate of potash, while for the main crop the dressing solely comprises pure bonedust rut on at the rate of from 12 to 14 cwt,. per acre, and lor the autumn crop an application uf 12 cwt ot blood and bone manure is made to the acre. Mr Miller stated that from practical experience he ha 9 found it necessary to use different varieties of manure such aa the foregoing at different times of the year. The first mixture mentioned, owing to the high price of potash, is more ccstly than the other dressings, but the action of the potash in producing a quirk growth and thereby reducing the risk of incurring blight (often experienced at the early period of the season) to a minimum, and at the same time forcing the tubers ahead for the early market, warrants the outlay involved. Pure bonedust as given the inain crops will maintain a steady growth, blc! the good properties of this fertiliser will supply all that is essential in the matter of dressing to the growing potatoes, provided there is a sufficiency of moisture in the ground to allow of the bune acting. Blood and bone given the last crop, while not being an expensive dressing, acts at this later period (when the atmospheric conditions are usually dry and the absence of moisture is therefore pronounced in the ground) more quickly than other artificial applications which are not so readily assimilated, and good results accrue from the use of blood and bone at this period of the year. Mr Miller's main crop is well forward, there being no Bign of blight whatever, and he anticipates digging this crop about the middle Ot next month. Already one acre has been replanted by him from which the next season's seed will be drawn. Southern potatoes of the Gamekeeper variety have been nut in, in order that a change of seed may be obtained. Mr Miller considers it imperative to obtain southern potatoes every third season for change of seed.

Other crops on the same place included 1£ acres of onions, the earliest of which are now from eighteen-inches to two feet high Thu iirat of the transplants, which were put out at the beginning of August, are also well forward, but the later plots, of course, like other fanners' late transplants, arc much in need of rain. Small lots of peas, cabbage and vegetables comprised the balance of the vegetation at present in the garden. This week Mr Miller intends sowing seed, Hullicicnt for planting out halt'-an-acre, of drumhead savoys, a winter cabbage. Last winter a similar-sized plot grown by him furnished some 5000 vegetables, the disposal of which in Auckland realised £27 10s. The seed from which that lot was gniwn was planted in October, while the transplants were put out in December.