THE POTATO CROP.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3425, 16 December 1896, Page 2

THE POTATO CROP.

"We can't raise the potato crops we ÜBed to," said a well-known Okaiawa settler to me the other day when our conversation bad drifted to tubers. Upon asking the reason why, my friend could give no explanation, beyond that there was something in the soil or something in the seed. He also added that by changing the seed and setting in " new ground" (land from which the timber has been cleared, but that never has been cropped or grassed) that it made no difference ; the crop had developed a weakness and the weakness was yearly growing rather than diminishing. Now, this is to be deplored, as a failure in the potato crop would mean a sad state of affairs in Taranaki. It is to be hoped that the efforts now being put forth by the Normanby Horticultural Society may go to prove that a change of seed will effect the improvement in the crops that, is so desirable. The present dry weather is not doing the crops any good, and it is to be hoped that rain may soon oome. Writing in the American Practical Farmer of November, Mr T. B. Terry, a recognised authority on potato culture, wrote as follows concerning a new cure for potato scab:—The Indiana Experiment Station has probably found a new substance to treat seed potatoes with to kill scab germs that may be on the tubers. It is known as Formalin. The advantage is that it is not in the least poisonous. They have, or will soon issue a bulletin on the subject. They kindly furnished me some to try this year and, so far as I can tell from one season's use, it is as effectual as corrosive sublimate. Formalin comes in pound bottles. ' It is a colorless and perfectly harmless liquid. Add one-half pint of this (40 per cent, strength) to 15 gallons of water and soak seed in it for two hours; then cut and plant. All credit for these direotions is due to the Station. I have always dreaded having so much poison around as we had to when using corrosive sublimate. One will get careless, so I am very glad there is a prospeot of a safe cure.