NOT MUCH POTATO BLIGHT THIS YEAR.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 72, 26 March 1909, Page 4

NOT MUCH POTATO BLIGHT THIS YEAR.

Potato blight may bo seen this year in a number of districts, states Mr. Kirk (Government Biologist), but the evil is not at' all pronounced. The dryness of tlie season induced some growers to trust in providenco rath or than in the spray pump, and paid a penalty. Those who planted in areas where the humidity was excessive, and neglected the spraying, lost a portion of their crops. The growers are asked over and over again- to regard spraying as a cheap insurance policy. Some act on the advice, and rejoice; others turn a deaf oar, and are saddened. In 1906 a Feilding farmer, who decided to follow Mr. Kirk's instimctions, ' thoroughly sprayed a crop of thirty acres,, and' the result was a yield of fourteen tons to the acre in a season when the blight was nrevalont and ruined many potato fields. At a time when heedless persons lost money, the .vise man cleared between £4000 and £5000, for he got very high prices for-tho produce. And the total cost of spraying cost only 5s to 5s 9d pt>r acre for olio application. Even if three or four courses are deemed necessary, it is estimated that the outlay of 15a to £1 un acre to ensure a crop is money very well invested.