ROOT GROWING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 July 1943, Page 2

ROOT GROWING

DISTRICT SCHOOLS’ CONTEST CARROT CROPS. PIRINOA BOY WINS DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP. The results of the root growing competitions (carrots) conducted by the Wairarapa Boys’ and Girls' Agricultural Clubs in the past season are:— District Championship —Bruce Priest (Pirinoa) 209 points, 1; Desmond Wilton (Rangitumau), 166 pts., 2; Ray -Thomas (Pirinoa), 100 pts, 3. Masterton Group. —Desmond Wilton (Rangitumau), 166pts, 1; Dawn Wilson (Mauriceville), 148pts, 2; lan Bain (Mauriceville), 146pts, 3. Carterton Group.—Tui Daysh (West Taratahi) ,77pts, 1; Maureen Thomas (Parkvale). 73pts, 2; Jim Daken (Clareville), 70pts, 3. Featherston Group. —Tom Ness (Kahutara), 132pts. 1; Cameron Pottinger (Kahutara), 128pts. 2; Ross Jansen (Featherston District High School), 123 pts, 3. Martinborough Group. —Bruce Priest (Pirinoa), 208pts, 1; Ray Thomas (Pirinoa), 160pts, 2; Barry Beveridge and John Hogg (partnership plot), (Mar- ' tinborough D.H.S.), 144pts., 3; Rana McKinley (Martinborough DH.S.), 121 pts, 4. Reporting on the competitions, Mr. F. C. Brockett, instructor in agriculture, states that the competition was for carrots only, the mangel growingcompetition being discontinued for the time being. The heaviest- crop recorded was grown by Bruce Priest,- Pirinoa School, and weighed out at the rate of 42 tons 4cwt. 721 b. to the acre, only Bcwt less than last year’s best, in spite of the unusually dry weather for a long period in the new year. The average yield for the previous year was approximately 19 tons per acre, whereas this season it was approximately 11| tons. This lower average could be attributed partly to the unusually dry late summer and autumn and partly to the fact that all crops were weighed this year whereas last year the poorer crops were not judged. Of 51 entrants, 33 completed, compared with 23 out of 51 last year. This appeared to show that the children were receiving more encouragement to carry their crops to completion, even when conditions were unfavourable. Cultivation on the whole was good to very good. Again there was slackness by competitors in sending in their crop records. Owing to this it was not possible to finalise the competition until the first week in July, two months after the crops had been judged.