GRADING OF POTATOES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19125, 17 September 1925, Page 14

GRADING OF POTATOES.

DISOUBSION AT FUKEKOHE. The question of grading potatoes sent out from the Pukekohe district was discussed at the last meeting of the PakeIt oho Chamber of Commerce. The president, Mr. H. H. rattle, moved that the executive be asked to ascertain tbe feeling of the potato-growers of the district a3 to the institution of some system of grading their outputs. As a grower, Mr. E. J., Campbell said that competition between those on the high land (*nd those on the lower areas, to market crops as early as possible and get the benefit of high prices, led to some Iwing marketed before the tubers were sufficiently mature, the result being that the reputation of the Pnkokoho potato output as a whole was depreciated somewhat. The district was so well favoured that it produced two crops in a season, the first being planted about June I,'but this meant that each crop was grown really " out of season," and things grown out of season were inclined to be small. When immaturity was added to this factor, the result was not good for the reputation of the industry. Mr. H, Burrows said last year he experimented by grading the yield from three acres. The biggest potatoes ho classed A 1 special, and then he made an ordinary first grade and a second grade. 'Che result was a return of £35 more than . - Jie wonld otherwise have got. In reply to Mr. 0. Hoerdegen, the president intimated that the merchants f Jj&d not come to any conclusion on the fatter. Mr. Heordegen said he considered grading wonld prove a vory fine thing for the grow era. He felt that it wmld pay them, through enhanced prices, to send out only first-grade potatoes, rcfftfntng the others thernsejves. Grading hid saved the fruit-growing industry. The president, Messrs. Barrows, CampWl and Heerdegen, and the secretary, g ' Day, were appointed a comto confer with the growers and the merchants together on tiw a*stkaa.-~ <sMrea»qa&»tt.