POTATO GROWING

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23753, 26 September 1942, Page 3

POTATO GROWING

SUPPLYING THE ARMY MODERN MACHINERY METHODS The potato growing campaign round Christchurch for Army supply has something highly practical to show m place of the talk which not infrequently is the beginning and end of some of these campaigns. One such instance is the effort of the International Harvester Company’s staff to help in the supply for the Army next year. The area being prepared is 80 acres. Much of this land has been out of cropping as long as the oldest resident can remember, and it consequently is in great heart, and with the intense tillage it is receiving it is fair to assume that a nine or 10-ton crop should be comfortably averaged. At a value of £9 a ton, the resultant 700 to 800 tons should produce at the fixed price £6OOO to £7OOO. Potato yields are notoriously uncertain, but the figure suggested could slip substantially and the effort would still be a solid one. Practically all the work is being voluntarily done by the staff of the company on the Saturday holiday, the exception being labour in the use during the week of the implements supplied by the company for men of its own staff, paid by the company, and in one case where the soldiers are doing the planting work. ‘•Straggler” had a look round these areas during the week, and what impressed hinp apart from the commendable effort of the company and its men to help feed the Army, was the efficiency of modern implements in converting gorse-infested and otherwise derelict land into a first-class arable condition. There is a striking instance of this on a 10-acre block of heavy gorse land on the Burnside road, abutting the north arm of the Avon river. The last time it carried a crop as far as can be learned, was about 30 years ago, of exceptionally big mangels. When taken in hand about two months ago it looked a rather hopeless proposition, with gorse growing on much of it to a height of 14 feet with trunks and roots not unlike those of small trees. The closing for years of the main outlet drain had allowed water to accumulate, and the proposal to bring the paddock _ in caused much sceptical head wagging. A 40 horse-power Diesel tractor was used for power, attached to a set of bush and bog harrows. After drying the gorse was burnt, the trunks chopped up, and carted off. The bush and bog harrow had another go, and then the swamp plough turned the land over to a depth of 10 inches. This week the paddock was being worked up to a good tilth with the harrows, the roots being brought to the surface in this operation and removed, There is no doubt that the cost of the reclamation in ordinary farming would be considerable, but the land is of quality—and 100 tons of potatoes at £0 a ton would “be a help” in meeting it! Other paddocks of varying acreages, all being ploughed out of the lea, are being brought in for planting this next few weeks. One area of 25 acres is badry affected with twitch, but this is to be fallowed and worked later for planting next season. Another instructive lesson was provided by a hillside block of about 15 acres at Hoon Hay, which was being planted this week. The land appeared too steep for ploughing—it had not been broken up before—and the discs were used free!” i :th a new type of harrow attached. The latter implement tore the clods of turf asunder and generally a tilth was provided that should guarantee a good crop. The advantage of discing in this case possibly is that with a heavy rainfall there will be less liability of the soil scouring out. Soldiers are employed m the actual labour of planting, and the result should be a useful contribution of early potatoes—not 10 tons an acre, naturally—for the Army early in the year. ■

ABERDEEN-ANGUS BREED SUPPLYING THE DEMAND One of the outstanding features of beef cattle breeding in New Zealand in recent years is the progress of the Aherdeen-Angus. It became pronounced in the North Island 20 years ago, but much later m the South Island, where, of course, there was not the scope, but the black cattle are now forming a big proportion of the prime beef that enters the markets. “Straggler" recalls a trip he took about 25 years ago up the East Coast of the North Island to the end of beyond." Hicks Bay. The Shorthorn was then obviously being steadily pushed off the grass flats by the dairying breeds, which were taking possession, of most of the easy country. Of the beef breeds the Hereford was still dominant and there were scattered herds of blacks about the front hills. Another trip was taken through much of the same country three years ago. On the flats the dairy cattle had taken practically complete possession, the Herefords had retreated further into the hills, and the Angus mainly, and the Angus-Hereford crosses, with their white faces, were to be seen everywhere. In the last five to 10 years the breed in the south has followed North Island experience, and at the principal markets and at the stock shows they are becoming the dominant breed. In view of the fact that because of the war and preceding difficulties, importation of new blood was difficult, if not impossible, the country is fortunate in having earlier imported from Scotland some of the best strains of the breed available. The president of the Aberdeen Angus Association, who attended last month’s fat stock show at Addington, expressed his satisfaction at the display of the breed, and to meet the obviously growing demand he is submitting to an auction sale in Christchurch next month a number of fashionably-bred bulls, including an imported animal. With bulls bred locally from the pioneer stud herds the auction should evoke keen interest, as beef values appear as if they will be maintained and the cost, risks, and difficulties of arranging transport from the North Island will be avoided.

HARVEST LABOUR MANNING OF HEADERS AND MILLS * The executive of the North Canterbury Agricultural Contractors’ Association states that in view of the possible shortage of available men during the coming harvesting season all appeals for exemption from military service and appeals for men to be released from camp by machine owners, doing contract work, should be first submitted to the association and approved by a special sub-committee before such appeals are lodged. The executive of the association, at its last meeting, considered the possibilities of zoning all threshing machines, header harvesters, chaffcuttcrs. baling machines, etc., operated by persons carrying out this class of work on contract or off their own farms. It was considered this could be done, and a sub-committee consisting of Messrs W. J. Bowman. James Curragh, Alfred Amor, C. A. Wornall, and A. P. H. Roscoe, was set up to go into the details of the matter and bring down a scheme for consideration at the next meeting of the executive.