EARLY POTATOES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 234, 2 October 1937, Page 4

EARLY POTATOES.

PUKEKOHE CROP. GOOD YIELDS ANTICIPATED. MAIN CROP ALMOST READY. (From Our Correspondent.) PUKEKOHE, Friday. Ideal weather has favoured the Pukekohe potato crops this season and unless anything unforeseen occurs growers can look forward to a good year, particularly where the main crop is concerned. Growers experiericed many disappointments last season owing to heavy frosts, excessive rain and hail etorms, accompanied by biting winds. This eerious series of setbacks affected the yields considerably, while the growth was retarded by several weeks, with the result that instead of the Pukekohe potatoes living up to their reputation of being the first on the market their arrival coincided with the first diggings from other centres. Accordingly, their opening prices were well below the average and the growers hardly received much compensation for their labours and disappointments. Although planting commenced early this year no damage was done by frosts, whilo the rainfall, although ample, has not been excessive, and a quick growth has resulted. Digging was commenced last week on the first of the new potatoes, but the growers have been content to limit their operations until the potatoes are more mature. What have been dug so far are of a very good quality and size, while the yield shows great promise of what to expect when the digging operations are commenced in earnest on the main crop in about two to three weeks' time. Several tons marketed so far have brought prices which have ranged up to £36 per ton, but these rates did not last long, for at present the best are making about £25 per ton for the glower.

fhe crops arc actually about four weeks earlier this year, and. accordingly, it is anticipated that growers will receive about £1/5 per ton or slightly better for supplies marketed during October. Although the prices are showing a marked downward tendency at present, this is quite usual, for they drop rapidly until they reach a mark between £15 aiul £18 per ton, following which there is a gradual easing off until they are normal in about the m:;!dle of November. At that time of -lie year, however, the output is enormous at Pukekohe, thp railways handling well over 100 tons daily for weeks on end. while many tons are also taken to Auckland by motor truck. I

1 he Pukekohe crop should meet a good demand this reason, for exports to South America have reduced the southern surplus considerably and although there is little likelihood of a shortage the supplies will not last for long after the Pukekohe crop is ready. In addition, Ohakune potatoes, strong competitors on the early Xovember market, are later this year, owing to frosts.