POTATO TRANSPORT.

Mt Benger Mail, 26 April 1933, Page 3

POTATO TRANSPORT.

0 INVESTIGATION OF CONDITIONS IT HOLDS. ACTION BY MERCHANTS. iiu NA-w Zealand Grain and Produce Merchants’ Association Jor some time past has been interesting itseif in the quality of Aie southern potatoes despatched to Auckland. Unfortunately it has been found that on certain occasions what appeared to be sound lilies of potatoes when shipped at Smith island ports, did not reach Auckland in a satisfactory condition. Such a state of affairs is likely to prejudice the reputation and sale of South Island potatoes in North Island towns. The association, consequently, has asked the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to undertake some in estimations on the effect of transport conditions In the holds of the vessels conveying potatoes to the North Island. The co-operation of the Union Steamship Company has now been secured, and it is hoped to inaugurate the contemplated inustigations with the beginning of this year’s shipments, and to continue them throughout this season.

Influence of Temperatures. The work in contemplation will follow the lines of that which has given useful results in connection with the transport of New Zeanml fruit overseas. In the transport of any living material, such as fruit or potatoes, it has been feu ini that temperatures exert the most important influence on keeping quality. Consequently, .a survey will be made of the tempt rat us iu holds of various vessels, by means of recording nisi l aments. Sample lots of potatoes from commercial consignments will be examined both before and after the voyage, to aseertain how these have responded te the influence of the temperatures is the holds. Flesh temperatures of the potatoes will also in taken to ascertain what correspondence there is between them and the temperature of the air in the hold. If it is found possible, lines of potatoes of known history, grown on different classes of soil, harvested at different stages of maturity, and of different varieties, wil be surveyed. Analogy of Fruit. It is realised that before any specific recommendations can be made regarding improvement or potato transport, surveys have to be made of what are the actual conditions prevailing and the relevant information thus gained carefully weighed iu the balance before specific recommendations ecu be made which will lead to improvements. The trials which tin. department has carried out on fruit for a number of years past has emphasised how important these precautions are. All living material, and especially vegetable material, possesses a great range of variation. Season, variety, pre-shipment handling, all play important parts which it is most difficult to gauge by inspection only. The experience in one season is often completely negatived by that of the following season, so that the evidence gathered from continual surveys needs very careful weighing before any deductions are made. It is hoped, however, that the present investigations will give some definite indications by which slight modification in the handling of the potatoes both before and during shipment will lead to important results so far as their deterioration is concerned. This is what lias been found in the case of fruit, where the changes for the better have not necessitated radical alterations in the equipment aboard ships or in the handling methods before shipment. The exercise of additional care and the taking of adequate precautions have been all that has been necessary.