POTATO CULTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1919, Page 3

POTATO CULTURE.

LECTURE AT TECHNICAL COLLEGE. At the NeW Plymouth Technical College yesterday afternoon, Mr. L. P. Webster gave an address on potato growing. The, gathering was primarily arranged for the benefit of school teachers, though a number of the general public were also present, the audience including a good' proportion of ladies. Sir. Moore, Director of Technical Education and principal of the college, presided. Mr. Webster said that in the past enough attention had not been paid to this important branch of the kitchen garden. In many cases, little care and attention were devoted to the many details necessary to ensure good yields, and at the proper season. He then proceeded to deal with the question of seed selection. Too much cah; could not be given to the selection of suitable seed which could be recognised as true to type and variety. It frequently occurred that a potato was planted and a tuber quite different from U,-: variety believed to be sown was produced. The safest plan was to become acquainted in some way with the few particular varieties whicn are known to do well, or else buy from only reliable sources. At the present time, there were many potatoes of the same kind being sold under different names, and this .was a difficulty the amateur had to contend with. Continuing, Mr. Webster said it had notf become a recognised fact tliat to ensure a good crop of tubers it was absolutely necessary to have the seed nicely sprouted before committing it to the ground. The seed shoot, or haulm, in this way became more robust, and had a greater chance of resisting any disease. Weak or wire eyes were at once detected ! and destroyed, and a uniform crop and no misses in the row was the most likely result. The tubers could also be cut to better advantage, and, if cir- j l cumstances compelled, planting could take place several weeks later, and the plants would be up just as quickly. In regard to methods of planting, it was stated that this district could not successfully grow a late crop; or, at all events, it could grow early to mid-season •crops much better. As a general rul?, seed planted during June, July, and August was planted much too deep. The best method was to make a Blight trench, practically dn the surface, just sufficient to hold in place the stable manure (which is regarded as absolutely essential for eirly potatoes). A good dressing of this, well rotted, should be given, say, two to three inches deep by about eight inches wide. Insert the potato well down into the manure, lightly covering the eye or shoot with the manure, and place the tubers 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 four inches, and if using potash manure sprinkle a little along the tops of the rows, which will then stand up above the level of the patch like so many Jong graves. Care must bo t*ken in planting this way to allow more room between the rows, as more soil is required for banking up. At least three feet should be left. The object i)f planting in that way is that the growing tubers get tne sun on both sides and from the top. It was generally recognised, said Mr. Webster, that to grow potatoes satisfactorily a regular system of spraying must be undertaken and carried out. The usual spray recommended for potatoes, and one which had lesist clianee of variation in its ingredients, was the bluest tone, washing soda, and water in the proportion of 4-4-10. Spraying should be begun before the blight makes its appearance in the district and as soon as the potatoes are high enough for their first banking, and should be continued at intervals of from a week to ten days. With a little care in this way, the blight could undoubtedly be defeated. At the conclusion a number of questions were answered, and Mr. Webster was accorded a vote of thanks for his address.