WAIMATE POTATO CROPS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28267, 3 May 1957, Page 8

WAIMATE POTATO CROPS

Warmer Weather Prevents Rot (New Zealand Press Association) TIMARU. May 2. Many of South Canterbury’s potato crops which looked in danger of being drowned out by heavy rain at Easter have been saved by the unseasonable warm, north-westerly weather of recent days. Crops, soaked by Easter rains, have dried out quickly and the rotting through floodwaters is not as serious as first estimated in the Waimate area—principal producfer of New Zealand’s main crop. Certainly there had been losses in some areas, but prospects were now much brighter than they had been earlier, said a spokesman for the South Canterbury Grain, Seed and Produce Merchants’ Association yesterday. “This weather is • really a godsend for the grower as conditions were very sticky.” Growers had been held Up for a fortnight, but digging was in full swing again throughout South Canterbury. Similar weather in North Canterbury had accelerated digging there. New Grading Because of dissatisfaction with the grade in previous years, a new set of grades for potatoes had been drawn up this season, added the spokesman. As from May, the old f.a.q. grade had been replaced by New Zealand No. 1 grade. All parties—consumer, merchant, and grower alike —were dissatisfied with the previous gradings, and last season, with high prices ruling, dissatisfaction reached a peak, he said. With the idea of stabilising the qualify and having a uniform grading, there had been a complete overhaul of grades.