POTATO CROPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 900, 2 October 1866, Page 6

POTATO CROPS.

I (Fi'Oll. tho WKKKLV Llerald.) I The potato is a favorite crop witli tlie New Zealand farmer ; for the reason, perhaps, that the soil and climate are well adapted to its growth. There is, however, a diversity of opinion as to the effect which the growth of potatoes lias upon tho land, some assertiug that the land becomes exhausted and reudered unable to produce a crop of corn in tho succeeding year; others, again, look upon the growth of this crop as not only profitable, but necessary, especially in the reclamation of new land, contending that any impoverishment of the soil is more than compensated by the thorough tillage which id receives "during the growth of a potato crop. Undoubtedly tho production of a crop of potatoes is most exhausting to the soil, but wo are inclined to agree with those who take the other view of the question. One thing is very certain, that where it is intended that the land shall carry a wheat crop after potatoes, it; will be always found that by manuring the land for potatoes, noi only will a good crop of that plant be obtained, but a better crop of wheat will be reaped in the following year than could have been taken from tho same land after a naked fallow j without manure. The better plan, perhaps, is to manure heavily for the crop preceding the potato crop, and lightly only, and with artificial manure, for the potato crop itself. In newly reclaimed lands, however, experience proves that the working the soil gets during the growth of a potato crop, iully compensates for the large quantity of nutritive matter extracted by the potatoes. 'Where, however, it is desired to lay down the land in permanent pasture, no better crop can be grown in this province than tho potato. Grass never takes so well after any other crop, and the lifting of the potatoes leaves the soil ready for the harrow and the seed, which, coming away at once, covers tho land with a good growth before the setting in of winter. For this reason the potato crop will for very many years be a favourite one in this part of New Zealand. The following information respecting tho culture of this root is so much to the purpose that we are induced to extract it entire from a late number of the Australsi an :— As with some other bulbs and tubers, we prefer manuring the preceding crop heavily rather than applying tho stimulant direct. We are aware that many are from circumstances unable to do this ; to those we advise the application of bone-dust or other immure with caution. We would rather thoroughly mix the manure with the soil during the first operations, the preparing the land, tliau drawing the furrows out as many do, and putting sets and manure in together. The quantity used must, of course, depend upon the quality of the land ; but from six to eight hundredweight of bone-dust will be found not a whit too much per acre on land which has been cultivated any length of time. Much more than this of artificial manures is used in Knglinid, where it is not unusual to expend .£G to per acre for manures alone, and no money is ever better expended or more honestly accounted for by the return crop in any ordinary season, lint the same manures which are suitable for mangolds wi'l not be required by potatoes. For instance, suit for one is injurious to the plant, and so are the compounds of lime. Guano on poor laud suits admirably, and though bones are not approved of generally in England, we have received very satisfactory accounts of their effectiveness in these colonies, particularly upon the drier lands. Jitit as farmers are situated upon most tarnis, and cannot command exactly what the scientific world recommends, they can follow common sense, and by making a good compost of tho materials to be found in the stable, yards, &■••.., they will be perfectly satisfied with the application, if given with a liberal hand. In our last we mentioned that potatoes of the medium size, cut in halves longitudinally, were considered the most profitable vielders. .But care should be taken not to form too large a heap of th,se cuttings or sets when allowed to lie in a large heap for a night or two. When cut fhey ought to be spread thin, and they are all the better, in the opinion of many, if a slight crust be formed on the face. The strongest shoots will always show at the nose end or crown ; the stems which vegetate from the lower end of the potato are alwaj'S weak and feeble ; this induces some growers to choose larger ones than we have spoken cf, cut ofT sufficient from tho crown end for two sets, and use tho larger or stem end for domestic purposes, or for the use of stock : in fact many of our most practical farmers look upon this p.irt of potato growing as one most important, quite in proportion to that of the choice of seed wheat. And where is there a crop in which there is so wide a difference, taking value and weight per acre into consideration, as in the potato ? We have more than once seen a throe railed fence separating two paddocks, the one yielding fourteen tons per acre, the other less than half that quantity ; even at only 60s per ton, here is an actual difference of over U2O per acre in tho yield from similar soils, but occasioned by very different treatment. As to the distance between tho rows, we do not recommend either eighteen or thirty-six inches; but we contend every kind of potato requires its own suitable space for its growth, and this can easily be learned by very little observation during the season. Asa general ride, whether in field or garden, the space allowed for tho growth of each plant should be as nearly as possible such as it would naturally occupy if suflered to spread freely without interruption. This space will vary according to the habits of particular varieties. ' Too much as well as too little room is alike injurious. There is no doubt but that crops may be wonderfully increased by a little attention to this part of tho subject. Twenty-seven inches is a very common width for the colony, and wide enough, too, for the common run of our lauds. Some adopt the wider mode of planting, and as strongly advocate thirty-six inches from row to row. .Nine inches ddlerencc is vevv great. If tho lesser distance be sulhiucut, why lose one row in four, or 25 per cent, of the land P The larger distance is principally recommended, we really believe, because it is supposed to facilitate operations with horse-hoes and ploughs ; but such is the perfection to which our implement-makers have arrived at, that we can now purchase and use implements which can, in the earlier stages of the growth at all events, be freely and advantageous y used without any in jury to theyoung tubers at the lesser width, or even narrower. The adjusting harrows nv.ido by Howard, can bo expanded or contracted to suit the rows, and are adapted for either ridge or flat; a man and lorse cleaning two rows each end, or four each bout, can get over from eight to ten acres a dav. I otatoes can be very well harrowed so soon as the earliest of the paddock appear above ground, the light harrows can go without danger either with or across the rows. This, harrowing cuts down all the young plants of wire grass chic!* weed. See., and although half a dozen plants may be injured, their loss is nothing compared with the benefit accruing from such au operation. .