PUMPKIN GROWING.

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6153, 10 August 1921, Page 3

PUMPKIN GROWING.

FINE CROP AT PATUTAHI. ONE SPECIMEN WEIGHS 1141bs. Last week an ironbark pumpkin, weighing; 85lbs, which was exhibited in the Farmers’ Union rooms, attracted a great deal of interest. The pumpkin was grown by Mr Hair ot Patutahi, and was indeed a splendid specimen. This specimen, it appears, was only one picked at random from a large crop, and on Monday. Air W. M Bayly, secretary of the Farmers’ Union, visited Mr Hair’s property, for the purpose of obtaining some photographs of, the crop. Speaking to a Times reporter yesterday, Air Bayloy stated that tin 3 crop ' was the' finest he had ever seen. It was grown in a paddock 40 acres in extent, situated by the Repongaere Lake, and was a sight such as would rouse the envy of every farmer. The largest which could be detected weighed 1141-lbs, and the pumpkin, which besides being unusually large, is comparatively of good shape, is now on exhibition in the Farmers’ Union rooms. The crop was a mixed onq, with, however, a preponderance of the ironbark variety, and, said Mr Bayly, a number of tlie specimens must have weighed over lOOlbs while large quantities would weeigh over 80 and-901b5.. For the past seven or eight weeks, said Mr Bayly, large numbers of slieep and cattle have been led on the crop,, the giant pumpkins being cut up with slash-books. The. crop, however, still appears exceptionally large, and it is estimated that at least another eight weeks’ feed is left. Unfortunately, no part of the. crop was weighed, so that the weight of the crop to the acre cannot be estimated.