GLUT OF POTATOES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 11, 14 January 1933, Page 12

GLUT OF POTATOES

CROPS LEFT IN GROUND

VALUELESS TO GROWERS x

Large quantities o£ potatoes, at present practically valueless, remain on the hands of growers in the Franklin district as the outcome of heavy over-production; states the "New Zealand Herald." Areas of ripe potatoes, ranging from a fraction, of an; acre to several acres in extent, are~ to; be seen all over the district with the tops of the potatoes well wilted. No move is being made to dig them. . The rain on Saturday is now precipitate ing a crisis in regard to these crops. The > weather has continued warm, since the liberal downpour, and with the soil moistthere is danger of second growth. There are about eight tons to the acre in tha' crops maturing at this time of the year, and if this enormous quantity of potatoes is allowed to sprout, the difficulties ' of the farmer in later clearing the land for sowing some other crop may be greater than the financial difficulties created by , the loss of the potatoes. To avoid this,, some growers have now started digging without waiting for the prospect of being able to market the potatoes. They are bagging them and storing them in : sheds or pits for later use. This is something of an experiment at Pukekohe.' Should the potatoes keep successfully, they will be in competition with southern potatoes on the market later in the year. It is estimated that the quantity of potatoes that at present could be dug for storage about Pukekohe is in the ■ vicinity of 2000 tons. The present posi-N tion gives point to remarks made by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, on his visit to Pukekohe on 16th June last: "I wish the women of New Zealand wonld realise the feeding value of potatoes," he said. "When I see the high price at which bread is sold in this country, I think. we should emphasise the value of potatoes. I wish we had farina mills in. New Zealand for turning the starch of potatoes into flour for making bread." The many uses o£ the potato were not realised in New Zealand, he added. If they could extend the knowledge of these uses, Pukekohe would have a still greater' market for its products.