POTATO-GROWING.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 July 1916, Page 10

POTATO-GROWING.

), HINTS. a e (By L.I'.W.) 6 In the past nut enough attention lias s been paid to this iin |>o!Laiit branch ol' n the kiltli. 11 garden. |„ many rases too little wire am] attention is 'devoted to il tin l many details necessary -to ensure • I good yields, and at (lie proper season. I* Space in t Jii > issue will not permit a s liiif treat ise to be undertaken. Preparation of ground.—ln small cots tag'e gardens it is not always possible _ to have new ground for caeli season's . planting: although inadvisahie, il is quite jMjssiblc to grow good crops in tile same ground t year after year. Those ( who are s 0 placed should endea v>r to j supply huniiis to the soil liy the broadcasting ol mustard, rape, peas or vetches after tlu> potatoes liavc. lieeu lifted, and, ahout 'May or .lime dig the ' growth urdcr and let' the ground Hillow until ready lor tile lirst early varieties. A good dressing of lime or coarse salt ; during this period will greatly sweeten tile soil, ami at the same time'kill many of the increasing varieties of grubs, wire worms and 'lice which prev so heavily upon all plant life and are so particularly destructive to potatoes. First planting.—This must dej il to a groat extent upon the season. Usually. under fair conditions, it is considered possible and advisable to plant some proved early maturing ordinary varieties, or kidneys, about the middle of •lime. Such varieties as the liobin Adair (or other kidneys if possible to ontain) or the (lold Coin should now be planted. Sprouting of seed—lt. has now become a recognised fact that to ensure a good crop of tubers it is absolutely necessary to have the seed nicely sprouted before committing it to the ground. Ihe advantages are many, and apparent. The seed shoot, or haulm, in this way • becomes more robust, and must; have a greater chance of resisting any disease. Weak or wire eyes arc at once detected ' and de-f roved. ou have a uniform ' .crop and should have no misses iu the I '1 he tubers can he cut to better ad- ' vantage, and if circumstances compel ' .vim, von can plant several weeks late, 1 and still have your plants up as quick- - l.v. I his method of boxing and sprouting seed is advocated strongly by the Department, of Agriculture,' and is adopted over many large potato-grow-, ing areas in Canterbury. ' 1 Method of planting, -kverv grower of - potatoes lias> his own idea of how this should lie don.-. In the first place, it must be remembered that this district cannot successfully grow a late crop. In any case, it can grow an early to ( mid-season crop very much better: in fact, from what has been seen of lute years they would be hard to surpass in - the Dominion. As a general rule here, the early potatoes, that is, those plant- | ed during .lune. duly and August, are planted far too deep, A leading and most, successful grower here who plants practically oil the surface has kindly v given a few hints which may he useful. . Taking the rough dug ground you just . make a -light trench not more than two inches deep; in fact, just sullicient <, to hold in place the stable manure " (which is regarded as absolutely essen- ] tial for early potatoes). A good dressing of this, well-rotted, should be given, v say, two to three inches deep by about eight inche- wide. Insert the potato well down into the manure, lightly eov- !' erinjr the eye or shoot with the manure, and place the tuber- about 12 inches " apart., or more, according to their producing qualities. Lightly cover the manure with a hoe or rake with soil to ] a depth of about two inches, and if you are using potash immure sprinkle a little along the tops of the rows, which will now stand up above the level of \ the patch like so many long graves. Care must be taken in planting this l way to allow more room between the ' rows, as more soil will be required for banking up. At least three feet should he left. The object of planting like this is that the growing tubers get the sun on both sides and from the top. In these parts one is always sure of an abundance of moisture. Selection of seed.—Too much care cannot be given to the selection of suitable seed, and at the same time seed which can be recognised a- being true to typo and variety. How often has a man - planted a potato as one kind to lind it produce a different tuber altogether! The safest plan is to become acquainted iu some way with a few particular varieties which are known to do well here, 01- else lniv from only reliable sources. At the present time there are manv potatoes of the same kind being sold under different names, and this is a difficulty the amateur will have to contend with. Some of the best varieties to -| grow here, that is to say. those which have given the best results of recent years, are: Robin Adair (kidney), Hold Coin, Sutton's Abundance. Sutton's '2O, Cp-to-datc and Camekeeper, in that order of planting. Spraying. —lt. i- generally recognised il now that to grow potatoes satisfactorily t a regular -ystein of spraying must be undertaken and carried out. The usual spray recommended for potatoes, and one which has least chance of variation in its ingredients is the Milestone, washing soda and water, in the proportion of 4-1 -40. Later on more particulars ' will be given relative to other sprays ' and to the easy manner of treating the, various ingredients while awaiting ( spraying. Spraying -hould he begun before the blight makes its appearance in the district and as soon as the potatoes are high enough for their first hanking, and should be continued every week to ten days. With a little enre in this way the blight can be undoubtedly attacked and defeated. DKSITIT. WAi; TAXATTOX, TTIE 1010 1 OYKKLAXI) IS BI T .C3lO. The price of tin- fivc-passcngcr Overland. Model 7.">. is remarkably low. After paying advanced freights and the 2(1 per cent, war duty, this superb ear is offered in Xew Zealand at at main ports. Overland methods of manufacture —huge output--have made possible such value. Klcctrie light and starter, one-man top and cover. rain vision wind--hield. headlight dimmers, extra rim, are included (in the equipment. Other advantages are cantilever rear springs, high-tension magneto, thermosvpbon cooling, full boating rear axle. rne<|uallcd value. Call and see a model For free catalogue and further particular* apply Mr. B. liyrn, New Plymouth. A, Hat-rick and Co., Ltd., Wanganui, distributors for Xorth Island.