EARLY MARKET GARDENING.

Shannon News, 5 September 1924, Page 3

EARLY MARKET GARDENING.

AUCKLAND, August 28. Early potatoes bring high prices, and the earliest district around Auckland is in the Titirangi and Waitakere ranges. One lot of “earlies” is reported to have brought 9d per pound for the Christchurch market. A paragraph referring to potatoes in the Runciman district caused a ll Oratia man to. remark: “Cali that early? Up in the hills we dug our early ‘spuds’ weeks ago.” It is not generally known to city people that a belt of country along the ranges never has frost, and, while the city and suburbs experience frosty nights, the warm air that has risen with the approach of evening lies along the northern face of the ranges. It is a common experience for the hill-dwellers to note the difference when travelling home from the city. This belt of frost-free country is about 500 to 650 feet above sea level and the soil i$ rich, semi-volcanic loam. As the district is specially suited for lemons, oranges, early potatoes., passion fruit, etc., and produce can be taken into the city in forty-five minutes by motor lorry, it will probably be extensively developed in the near future.