HANDLING POTATO CROPS

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 184, 6 August 1938, Page 9

HANDLING POTATO CROPS

Importance of Care is Stressed METHODS OF DIGGING To a large number of farmers the potato crop Is quite an important cash crop, for it represents approximately £500,000 to £BOO,OOO in value to the Dominion. Canterbury grows, on the average. 12,000 acres to 14,000 acres annually. It will be seen from these figures that it is an important crop on a number of Canterbury farms, but unfortunately it is a crop that does not always receive the care and attention it deserves.

Frequently complaints are received from North Island purchasers of the unsatisfactory state of some of the deliveries. This unfortunate state of affairs can be obviated to a large extent if more care and attention is given to the handling of the crop at and after digging. The potato crop is rather expensive to grow if all costs are taken into consideration; but, nevertheless, if good seed is used and average prices and weather conditions prevail it more than compensates the producer for his outlay. Planting and Moulding’. The best results are obtained by planting 2in. to 3in. deep, either with a planter, plough, or mould plough, all methods having their good points. The planter gives the best results on clean, free ground, which is convenient in that manure can be applied at the same time. Manure-boxes which can be fitted to.ploughs are also obtainable. One feature of planting with the plough that requires stressing is that it is essential to have soil with free subsoil; otherwise, with a heavy rain soon after planting, the water is apt to lie in the bottom of the furrow and rot the tubers. The mould plough is best suited to land of rather a stiff clay subsoil. Rows 28in. to 30in. apart generally give the best result in difficult moulding and digging. If a good mould is not made, the tubers, push through and become green, and if the season is dry the tubers are open to attack by the potato moth. Mechanical Digging. When digging with a digger, care should be taken to ensure that the spugs on the wheels are running clear of the potatoes; otherwise the latter will be crushed, resulting in a loss to the grower. Diggers are now being fitted with pneumatic tires, and this should result in a great saving. It is often a good plan to reverse the spugs on that wheel of the digger which runs alongside the row of potatoes which is not being lifted. Most diggers are fitted with gteel aprons which are agitated by a sproket wheel. If the digger is driven fast the potatoes are bumped about and become bruised, and ultimately rot. If the earth is dry it will be found that by the time the potatoes reach the top of the first apron they are free of earth, and in this case the second apron is unnecessary and should be removed to prevent them bumping about unprotected on the bars of the apron. In these days, with the power takeoff attached to the digger, more care than ever should be taken to see that the potatoes have a good covering of earth to protect them. If this is not possible, remove the sprocketed roller and put in a plain one, thus reducing the agitation and also the speed of operation. It is only a matter of time until most diggers will be fitted with an apron having a rulfoer coating over the bar. Hand DiggingIn hand digging the work of the diggers is mado a good deal easier and thero is less loss from spearing if the potatoes are planted further apart, IGin. to lGin. being the recognised distance for hand digging, They can be planted closer if the digger is used. Digging by hand is an operation for the expert, and, unfortunately, the good fork digger is becoming scarce. The ood digger will hardly mark a potato, but an inexperienced man can cause a large amount of damge by spearing and scrapping iu tho act of digging.

Potatoes should not be du until the skins are quite firm and until the earth has cooled. Digging potatoes m an unripe state generally results in heavy losses. Rain and a slight frost or two help to firm the skin on the tubers, and they will then handle more easily and with less likelihood of damage by bruising, etc. Potatoes should be dug in an immature state only when they are going into immediate consumption. These remarks apply to the main crop, and not to potatoes that are grown for the early market. Faulty covering of the potatoes after they are dug is another source of loss to the grower. If the potatoes are to bo pitted a well-ventilated pit shoulu De made, and the site should be on a high dry part of the field. Another method which is coming into favour is the ase of baled stray for the sides of the pit, which is then covered with straw