THE POTATO

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 6088, 21 December 1906, Page 8

THE POTATO

BLIGHT DAD AT OTAKX. PRICKS MORE REASONABLE XOW. Learning Hiat the blight was showing again in tlio potato crops in the vicinity of Wellington a ‘•Times'' representative! made some inquiries yesterday among the merchants whose business consists of handling tho locally-grown article almost exclusively. Uno merchant said that blight was very prevalent in tho Otaki district. '.y*j bad, indeed, wen; .somo of tho conSjgimiei!:s received recently from ’up the lino’ that the rothing tubers were cosing through tho sa-cKs. Tauso were, mostly Chinese grown potatoes, and had been raised without any attempt at spraying. Tho blight has reappeared at Auck.and; there are indications of it at tho Hutt • but Marlborough and Nelson -districts arc so far reported to ho clean, There is blight in tho Soimh, but as no potatoes are imparted from South so early in the season, tho livm had no practical experience o. blighted Camara or Canterbury potatoes. Compared with this time last year, tlm bdght is a mere, bagatelle—the season is bettor by over fiity per cent. Asked if there was any specific reason for tlio great diminution in tho ravages of tho pest this year, it was, peijued out that tho intelligent grower had gone in a good deal for spraying, and ho had been assisted to a very large extent by tho hot dry summer experienced. Sunshine is a cheap specific for most things, and it is tho deadly enemy of tho blight, which does not. spread in hot, dry weather. On the other hand, wet weather is a direct inccutivo for the nest to wake up, and in this regard it noticeable that it was after floods at Otaki recently that tiio pest showed itself. merchant stated that the blight was heaviest at Otaki, but very light elsewhere as far as his report's showed. As a matter of Fact, there had been a great sluinn in potatoes four or five clays ago, the price falling suddenly from about 12s to between 5s and 7s per cwt., and there were still largo lots offering from Otaki, Hawkeys Lay, Marlborough, Nelson, and Motueka. Tho Christmas demand is having a slight effect, and there is an upward tendency at present.. Tho prices ruling yesterday ranged from 8s to 11s 6d per cwt. according to size and quality. A little while ago Victoria sent a lob of old potatoes ' that had to bo disposed of at very low rates. A small consignment arrived by tho Warrimoo from Sydney on Wednesday, but the importers had stopped tlm shipment of any more, as the local output would b© equal to ail demands For somo time to come. This merchant held tho same opinion as the previous one consulted in regard to the pffret the weather had on the spread of blight. If tho affected districts havo the ill-fortuno of we* weather at present, he had little doubt that the pest would be as bad .as ever—tho hot, dry weather was the great factor in holding it in check. In the meantime tho quality of the potatoes coming in is very good and the price reasonable.