THE BLIGHT AGAIN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 500, 6 May 1909, Page 5

THE BLIGHT AGAIN.

POTATO DROPS BADLY AFFECTED,

' WINTER STORAGE FEABED.

The summer supply of new potatoes has been such a liberal one, , and prices, have been so reasonable for four or five months past that it comes as a shock to learn on the best authority that the Irish blight is badly affects ing tho winter crops, and that the greater portion of tho fow now,coming to.hand from if.io chief potato-growing districts—Otaki, Marlbprough, Canterbury, and Oamani—aro badly blighted. A leading Wellington produce merchant said that ho had been trying all round to get sound potatoes,: but thcro were not many to be had. 'Those who had a good stook in pit soon ascertained that'the blight was baa elsewhere, and they either' , hardened the prieo or refused to sell, preforring to wait for tho rise;.-', ■ " .'. .■•■,'

"The season promised to bo , all right up to a fow weeks ago, wlien the rain came,' said our informant, "but since then the rot has set iiy and the prospects for tho winter aro reallyvery gloomyj-and if it goes on as at iirosont thoro will bo a shortage, and wo will have to import from Australia, ns wo did three years ago." •Is tho shortage felt alreadyP "Yea, I. should - think it was—there were only 80 sacks of* potatoes for all the merchants in Wellington on the wharf this morning. They were from Blenheim—not'a singlo sack for. anyone on tho southern boat. It's protty serious, I tell you." ■' ;■■■;.•' Tho merchant then exhibited the only two Backs of potatoes in the storo. "Look at thorn, arn't they beauties? .. They camo in tlio othor day looking as.fino ae you could wish; now, don't they smellf (holding his nose). .■:.■■'■' ; ■,• ' ' ,

Qiir, retnrosontativp pulled open tho. sack's mouth, and saw a sack of large potatoes plpwly dissolving thonisolves into a brown, wiekod-smelling mash. - ■■■ . • "Strange to say," said tho merchant, "the blight is tackling tho Denvents this year. Wo have always considered tho Derwent tho best-keeping potato, but this season that variety is suffering moat, and the Up-to-Dato is, ao far, fairly free, but how long that will last .is not very oertain." ~.--;