EARLY POTATOES

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 50, 27 August 1924, Page 4

EARLY POTATOES

AUCKLAND SHIPMENTS FOR THE .'-.-• . . SOUTH. .

(JSY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL TO THE POST.)

'AUCKLAND, «This Day. Early potatoes bring high prices, and v the earliest district around Auckland is in Titirangi and Waitakere Ranges. One lot of "earlies" -is reported-to' -have brought-9d .per" ]b for the Christchurch market.- A paragraph in Saturday's "Herald," stating that early potatoes are already being dug in the Rumanian district, thus illustrating the productivity of the. soil'in this area,-and that pns settler, Mr.-,S. Ballard, is supplying the Wellington market from his excellent crop, caused' an Oratia man to remark:-.. "CaH-.that, early,-Up in the hills we: dug our early spuds weeks ago." .It is not generally known to city'people that they belt of country along tliQ-ranges never1 has frost, and while- the-city and suburbs experiencefrosty nights the warm air that has risen with tho approach of evening lies along the northern face of the ranges. It is the common <texperience for hill dwellers to note the difference -when j travelling home from the city. This belt of frosfc-free country is about 600 to 650 feet above- sea level, and .the" soil is a rich, semi- volcanic- loam. ' .4g the district is specially suited for lemons oranges, early potatoes, passion fruit! _elc, and produce can.be taken into the city in. 45. minutes by motor-lorry it wi'l probably be extensively developed 'in the near future.