POTATO REQUIREMENTS
LESSONS FROM BHAKUHA. A special feature is being made of potato experiment* at the Kuakura Experiment Station in tho Waikato. Just ■>oo varieties have l>oen grown this season Ln*t season, there worn 70 varieties tested. and those have been extended by the big collection shown, at tho Christ/•liiireh Exhibition and later at the National Dairy Show by Mr McGowan, the noted potato grower of South Canterbury, who presented hi* fine display to the Government. Several varieties were abo received by the Department from abroad. This erreat list of varieties will bo considerably reduced for next season’s experiment*, only those being retained which have given some indication of their value in tho local environment. THE BEST VARIETIES. In detailing to the writer the results of tho season's tests, Mr Green, Horticulturist at Rnaknra, said some of tho .varieties which had given the best result in tho experimental plot* arc: Crocket Vi Up-to-Date, a largo white smooth-skinned T*»tato of a hardy and prolific nature; Early Norther, a white with a pinky shade, smooth in skin, prolific and hardy; Dakota Red Improved, a variation of tho well-known American potato—a dark pink tuber with deep eyes, resembling Rose, and, like tho latter, ft good cropper; Rod Federation, a deep-eyed potato of a pinky colour, a heavy cropper and a vigorous, hardy grower,' an excellent eating potato. in fact, considered to bo tho best giower mt the istation'i; Gold Coin, a large, long white potato with a 'smooth skin, one of the best bearers but does not suit all localities, a poor door on wot soils; and Star of New Zealand, a round, .smooth-skinned white tuber, a very distinct variety and has dono woll at Ituakura, prefers a dry situation, prolific dropper, not a large potato but gives a big number of tubers to the root. HOW BLIGHT WAS CHECKED.
The potatoes at Ruakura, said Mr Green, were sprayed twice with the ordinary 4.1.40 mixture, applied before flowering, and when the flowers were well matured. The potatoes were planted on Nevoml>er 4th, sth and 6th, and sprayed for the first time on December 14th and for the second time on December 31st. In tho main 6rop there was no trace of disease.
The varieties tested were manured with 7cwt to tho acre of special potato manure. A mammal test was also carried out, consisting of twenty plots. This was arranged by tho Department's chemist. Mr }l. C. Aston, and by Mr Hat-
trick. of the Potash Syndicate. The result is not yet available.
SELECTING SEED. A very important work done in connection with potatoes at Ruakura has been the selection of seed, the objective, of course, being improvement of the varieties. The method adopted was to discard all small and abnormal tubers and to select those of an average size for the variety and of symmetrical shape.
"WEAKENING SEED POWER. The seed potatoes were sprouted in boxes and “greened" in the fnm. Tho main benefit of greening, it should be pointed out, is that all weak-growing tubers can be sorted out before planting. Tho greatest difficulty encountered in this work is to secure vigorous seed from the smooth-skinned varieties. This is explained by tho fact that potato breeders, in endeavouring to secure smooth-skinned potatoes—and thereby enhancing their value from a consumer's point of view-have brought the eyes as near tho surface of the tuber as possible. This has led to the eye being too near tho surface and too far from the vascular system of the tubor, the eye being thereby robbed of the necessary diastase. It is always tho case that tho deep-eyed potatoes are the more vigorous growers, for the palpable reason that the eyes have been well nourished in having sprung from a better food base.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6488, 7 April 1908, Page 3
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626POTATO REQUIREMENTS New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6488, 7 April 1908, Page 3
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