THE POTATO CROP

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 4, 29 September 1917, Page 8

THE POTATO CROP

Sir,—l see from to-day's Do-uixion that a Wellington gentleman, just returned from England, is credited with the sta^e iment that there is an increase of 360,00U acres in the area under potatoes at Home. I am enclosing, a cutting, from the London "Observer* 1 of July 29, in which vastly different figures are given. According to that journal, the increase in the potato acreage of 1917 0ver.1916, is .76,000 acres, whilsMhe area under wheat shows a decrease of 1000 acres. Owing to the poorness of the cereal crop, due to ft,ie nad winter, the 1917 harvest fe unfortu- ■ nately not expected to be much .larger than that of the previous year.-I am, etc., HENRY G.^HALL. Kireaha, September 26. ' ' " ■ •/," [Enclosure] . ■ Harvest Prospects. Cereal Crops Below the Average. Potatoes.Save the Situation. Harvest will begin in the South of England in about a fortnight. The crops during the past two or three weeks have greatly improved. Owing, .however, to the severe winter, they will be below the average; and it remains to be seen whether, the increased acreage that was sown with corn will make up for this* deficiency. ■ ' ' . , '. The increased area under general cultivation has exceeded all expectations,, and shows what an exceptional eftort the farmer made in the spring in face of universally adverse conditions. It amounts to 317,000 acres, made up as follows-.— ■ Inc. or Dec. Acres. oyer 1916. , Wheat' Wli.ooo -WOO Barlev .:..■ 1,459,000 +127,000 •oa •!..:.:::.:... 2230:000 +wm Potatoes ....:.. 501,000 ■■ +W>oo_ ; 'Total ;..■:....... •••• + 3i7 > m , Exnressing an average crop by. 100, the conditions indicate probable. yields per acre which the Boartl of Agriculture denote by the following percentages:Wheat; ~. 9i Potatoes 103 Barloy v. 9S Mangolds 101 Oats -M Seeds hay 97 ; Beans".';.'.'.'.'.' 88" Meadow hay ..95 ■ Peas ...'..• 91. Hops -. 102 These figures, a representative of ''The Observer" was informed yesterday, u liable to correction at all, will probably show some slight improvement. Wheat, it was stated, suffered a good deal from tho severe winter, and is rather thin. Oais sown la6t autumn are almost a failure, but. spring oats ha«' improved ■ very much lately.. The latest of the • cereal crops is barley. ■ .