POTATO TRIALS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 335, 16 January 1937, Page 7

POTATO TRIALS.

SOUTHERN EXPERIMENT. i ■ Record Entries Received In Christchurch. I ■ j The greatest number of entries ever received, in all 833, from tne districts controlled by the Christchurch branch of the Department of Agriculture, have been received for the certification trials of seed potatoes conducted by the Fields Division of the department. In addition to local entries a number have been received from Otago, Southland, and the central part of the North Island, 1 and altogether about 1000 lines are being grown in the department’s trial plots at Rangiora, according to Mr R. McGillivray, superintendent of the division The plots at Rangiora are looking particularly well, Mr Me- ; Gillivray said, and it was proposed to hold a field day there on Monday next to enable growers to inspect their entries. Ryegrass entered for certification trials this year showed a reduction in area, and owing to the wet weather it is doubtful if some areas entered will be harvested. The growth has been terrific in some cases, Mr McGillivray continued, and white clover and trefoil have i grown so strongly as almost to submerge the ryegrass. Under the circumstances it is difficult to harvest crops successfully, and some farmers have already cut the areas for hay. Unfortunately some of this has also been caught by the rain and it is doubtful if it will be of use even as hay.