POTATO BLIGHT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 167, 12 July 1918, Page 6

POTATO BLIGHT.

Mr \R. Grant, Agricultural Supervisor, says the credit for -finding out the fact that potatoes planted more than, four inches deep are immune from blight, is due to Mr Martin, Chief Agricultural Instructor for the North Canterbury education district. It is pointed out by potato-growers that it is an unusual thing to plant mam crop potatoes as shallow .as four inches. ■Early potatoes are generally planted nearer the surface than the mam crop, in order that they may get move benefit from the warmth in the surface soil, and so bring them on quickly. It cannot be that planting has therefore much, if anything, to do with the question of blight, seeing that the main crop is usuallv more affected than the early crop. " According to Mr John Percival Professor of Botany at the Southeastern Agricultural College, Wye, author of "Agricultural Botany," published m 1902- "-Moulding up or covering up the tubers with a considerable layer of soil is said to diminish the attacks on the tubers by preventing the spores from being washed or otherwise carried down to them- When this is practised the rows of potatoes should be wider apart than usull to allow of plenty of loose earth to be hoed up to make the ridges. V There is therefore nothing 21 Air Grant's theory and at best ?t may only be a partial means ot r.reventine the attack of blight, Ho Festor Pe?cival say,: "When proper* ease."