POTATO SUPPLIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 291, 13 November 1941, Page 6

POTATO SUPPLIES.

LOCAL PLANTINGS HEAA'A

Potato planting is still being carried forward in the Alanawatu district but it is known that in the Rangitikc) area commercial growers will put in about IUO acres less than they did last year. When the statement ol the j Alinister of Agriculture (Air Barclay)] about the potato crop shortage was referred to a businessman, in Palmerston North who is in close touch with potato supplies, he said that no indication could be given yet of the acreage to be planted in the Alanawatu. further. llie Minister's .statement dealt with the position in broad terms and, even at this stage, was founded on estimate to a certain degree. Reports from other centres in the North Island, together with the experience of retailers in this city, show that household gardeners are planting a much greater aggregate area than they did last season. Two years ago, just after the outbreak ol war, they also bought seed heavily, with the result that when the crops were harvested there was a glut on the market. The same heavy buying of seed potatoes appears to be happening this year, except that whereas the plantings tuo years ago were to some extent a patriotic: effort in the provision oi food, this year the general scarcity of table supplies lias brought fears of a recurrence, next season, oi high prices. (Seed potatoes have been almost unobtainable in some quarters and in Palmerston North have been in very short supply. Further supplies are coming forward gradually, however. One of the reasons lor the shortage is that, owing to the general scarcity of potatoes, large quantities of seed potatoes found their way to the table. AYhcthor or not there will be a shortage next year, in this district at least, is° stated to depend to a very great extent on the kind oi growing season experienced and the yields which the plantings give, AA’itli a good season, resulting in good yields from all sources, the supply position is not, expected to be serious in this part of the North Island.