POTATO-GROWING AT WILLOWBRIDGE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10516, 26 July 1910, Page 6

POTATO-GROWING AT WILLOWBRIDGE.

MH 11. K M'GOWAX'S■ EXPKKI- '' s , JIKXTS. j ' • (Canterbury Times.) ov Last weell a reporter paid a visit to V.'illowbridge, South Canterbury, with ' u a- view of'gleaning some information re-'ii'-ding the experiments and the re- s j. suits of the past season's crop of pota- - I es carried on by Mr H. E. M'Gowan who is recognised tht gl length and breadth ot -New Zeal, nd ~( and beyond the borders of the Dominion as one of the most patient and scientific students of plant lite in ti.t colonies. 'Already Mr" M'Gowan has ; nclneved a good measure of success, A and the information which he has an- h nually been : able to supply has been invaluable to the community. It has A been said, and it has been accepted as fr an axiom, that the man who makes _ "wo blades of grass grow where one Previously .grew-is'a public benefactor b und itmust follow by the inexorable i w of "logical sequence that a num. who ( s able to show the farmers of the .DoniSion how it is possible to grow a ton ? •ind a-quarter, a ton and a halt, 01 ■ even two tons of potatoes whe«= one \ ton had grown previously, copters an f fnestimabfe'boon on + \is .Mbw-rn^. Until Mr M'Gowan "took ■' £ of potato-growing systematically, the - majority of growers followed • haphazaid •methods, or°rathef want P.f method, - ( and, generally growing only one , varietvrwere not in a position to make comparisons with a view. «. ascertain- ~ ing which was the most .prolific,. From .., ■the first, Mr - M'Gowan experimented , with a large variety, and having kept :. careful records of the results was in a posftion t« give an a,,tert« ( opinion as to the varieties which farE should plant in order to; secure tlio best results. Not content i iththe result of one year's crop Mr M Go* an continued to experiment ywiatto year, until he is now iu a position to say, without the smallest likelihood of error, which are the .most, profitable kinds to plant. The value ot reliablfi information of this kind cannot be over-estimated, and the potato-growing community owes a debt of to the W'illowbridge experimental toi the invaluable results of. his labors. In the "Willowbridgc district potato-- . growing has made considerable progress during recent years. Undoubtedly the soil is eminently suitable tor grooving this crop, as the past year has abundantly proved. Whereas from ' iust north of Willowbndge on to Marlborough, the crops, with tew exceptions, were stricken with blight, and while south of this favored spot throughout the Oamaru district and to ■ the southernmost point of Southland • the crops were seriously affected by the - drought, YVillowbridge enjoyed a fairly "ood'season. The rainfall m the early part of the spring was rather heayyand continuous, and consequently the • crops felt the effects of the dry sum--1 mer, but despite this drawback the , potato "crops did fairly well, some or the "rowers securing returns up to 10. ! 19 And 20 tons per acre of excellent 1 tubers, free from blight. Already these have nearly all been .shipped to Auckland, - where the V> lllov.bndge tuber is now well known and greatly in I demand, for. grown on a soil ot a sandy I nature, it is'a perfect ball of Hour when ' cocked. The potato-growing business i>'ust lie a remunerative one to the "\i u- , low bridge farmers, as is clearly shown ■* bv the 7act- that while a few years ago t tliirtv or fortv acres was the extent ot s the whole of the potato crop of the di.s----t tric-t. the coming season will see an area of live lo six hundred acres devoted to h this crop, lleckoning the return at ten y tons per acre—a conservative estimate ■ —this will give a yield ot about 61)00 1 tons, which at £3 per ton will mean a • return to the district, of potatoes alone i- of £lß.ooo—not a bad return for tubers e from such a small district. To show ii what a demand there is in the district , for land' suitable for potato-growing, 11 Mr M'Gowan stated that a few-years i- ;v-'o there were growers who 'were loth 2 to tdve a rental of £3 per acre for - potato land out of grass, while this season available land is being snapped up bv growers at rentals varying from .£5 to £G per acre. "I think." added Mr M'Gowan. "it is only a matter of time before W'illowbridge will become the garden of the Dominion, for whatever vou sow, if the ground is rightly prepared, it will respond with marvellous results. What would some people say if thev were told of some of our crops f Just 'imagine 90 tons of mangels per t> acre. 27 tons of potatoes, 55 tons of swedes, 85 bushels of wheat, and 90 of 3 barley."

Mr M'Gomn went on to enumerate the results of his experiments with the various kinds of potatoes, which can best be given in the form of a table,, ■living his comments and the return per acre. Here it may be mentioned that Mr M'Gownn has been most painstaking in sill his calculations, which may be thoroughly relied on in every particular. PLOTS PLANTED. From September 14 to September 30. Henderson's Early Puritan—This is one of the best first early white potatoes grown in the Dominion. ■ It'is a good cropner and of splendid flavor and shape, and very early.—lo ton qcwt.peracre. ■ '■' ..: . . ; Robin Adair—This grand pifik first earlv is now so well-known that it needs little description. It is one of the best blight resisters we have in the first earlies, and is a shapely tuber of good quality.—l2t 7c per acre.

Lapstone Kidney Another: old favorite that has stood the test of years and still retains its place of honor. This is probably one of the finest-flavored potatoes ever grown. —lOt loc per acre.

Sutton's Discovery—Probably one of the most serviceable potatoes yet. introduced. Suited for heavy and damp soils, where it will, produce enormous crops of good cooking tubers, free from blight.—lit 7c per acre. British Queen —Another good variety, now v.-ell-known. Rather susceptible to disease, and very hard to keep from one season to another on account of its habit of sprouting very early. Splendid flavor.—7t lGc per acre.

Sutton's Superlative—A., heavy cropper: tubers inclined to be-rather soft, and' bad keepers.—l3t 4cwt per acre. American Beauty.—Pink skin, very earlv and fair quality.—lit 8c per acre. i'i'tirthcrn Star. —This tuber came- to ti:i: Dominion with a great name as a ci.mper and a blight resister. Growers 'jaicl fabulous prices for a few pounds of seed, only to be disappointed with their returns'. This variety is most .suitable for damn and heavy soil, where blight is prevalent, for it is' a good reister and a heavy cropper—St 19c per

•icre. Bruce. —Somewhat similar to,L T p-to-Jate, perhaps a little earlier in matur.ivx. ' One of oil.' best second earlies; oval, white. —lOt 13c, per acre. Sutton's Satisfaction. —Good shaped tubers, oval," white, second early.—9t 7c per acre. r; Sutton's Abundance. —One of the best second earlies. Generally does well in any soil, but is perhaps more liable to blight than some of the hardier varieties. A good standard potato. —12t 5c per acre. Early Rose.—Another good variety that has stood the test- for many years. For light soils this kind should be grown for early cropur—Bt 16c per acre. Epicure.—The favorite first early of Great Britain. Introduced into the Dominion some three years -ago, but has not found favor. It is. a good first early, and should have a future. —lit loc per acre. Windsor Castle. —Another new English variety, second early. Has not taken on so well as it should have done. Tubers are shapely 7 and of good quality. —St 9c per acre. Early Breeze. —rOne of the best second carliers; in fact, it could range as a first early. This is an American production. Usually gives a heavy crop of sound, well-shaped tubers—lit 18c per acre: Lcrd Roberts.—A similar variety to Sutton's Abundance. A splendid cropper, tubers always large, excellent cooker. —lo£ysc pel" acre.

King Edward Vll.—This variety is more for show purposes, being nicely marked with bluish eyes.—st 7c per acre.

Maori Chief. —Another favorite second early. Tubers round, with pink eyes.— 8t 12c per acre. ■ .„ Snowdrop.—Second, early, of splendid quality; tubers very white and of oval shape.' This potato always boils very flotiry.—9t 18c per acre. t Sutton's Reliance. —A recent importation. Very early.—6t loc per acre.

Challenger.—Main crop. Tubers very namd,,(|lialit.y i;»S>(L—.U't l.Tir-pej- at-re.,... Champion Skerry.—A good old Irish potato, of sterling value where the land is. rich and dump, ami where bliylit is, prevalent.—rit Mi. per acre. _". ;" ' Earlv Jsc-auty ; .—A similar variety,, to I"p-tn-b:itp. 01 splendid quality, tubers oval. —12t 18c per acre. Scotiu-Seotch.—Pink skm, mam crop A good kind tor rich, damp soil—ot lGe per acre. Davies' Warrior.-eA hardy, white skin.. Suitable for damp localities— 8t 7c per acre. ', it ;-:~ 1 h Dakota: Red.—An -American variety. Supposed to be one,of the,, best blight grown there; undoubtedly u good standard, variety.—l2t 16c per Eldorado;— The Variety|k> sum:| fanciers were fooled with a few ..years, ago. A miserable failure !>, Might do in other localities.—3t 5c per acre..'. Lord Ranfurly .—Qf' ; the... Sutton, s Abundance tribe. A • good cropper, tubers very, nicely shaped, rich flavored. —lGt.lOc per acre - ■ Cratchie Grant.—The noted early. black' -kidney.;. V.Quality, excellent. v ;Np garden should be without some,, tor Christinas- dinner.—Bt 18e- per aere v ■ Kohinihini—This is a wild variety found growing: in some, of the ojd Maori pas, North Island. Very strong.growth, but-tubers of peculiar flavor. Much favored by the Maoris.—7t 18c pe*r acre. ■..■■ Sir Breeze,—A recent introduction. Somewhat similar to Eobiu Adair. Very early; pink skin.—6ft 15c per acre. Table Talk.—This variety is a good cropper-on some soils,, but' does not "suit Willowbridge.—ot 9c rper, acre-., . -. ; , .-' Cliff Kidnev.—Another'wild variety. Very heavv cropper of .large,, coarse whites"'tuDers; peculiarly,', flavored. :, A blight r-esist-er.—l7t.; 13c- per acre v ' Zyoh ; House Prolific.—Splendid oval white tubers; well flavored. Haulms of; a. spreading American' vajj ■ Early Vermont.—An'other good Ame--rican earlv. Pink skin; a. general,.favorite in Nelson; much like the old Early Rose —Bt 18c per acre. Sutton's Supreme.—An English variety/ Does not.do well in New. Zca- > land.—6t 4cper acre. - ; " ;..''■•' Solanum Commerfoni (violet). —xhe 1 noted Uruguayan first-cross tuber. A ; verv heavy cropper. Tubers large, deep- ! eyed and" coarse. Peculiarly flavored. ' "Undoubtedly a good blight resister and suited for swampy localities. —ISt ±c

per acre. . . '■">">";.. ' i.«. .-----.• ■ Princess Victoria. —Now won known all over the Dominion. Probably the liest all-rimud. potato ever,introduced. Tubers nice oval-shaped, few small, splendid keepers, and for the table are like balls of flour when cooked,p"roperly. One of the best blight resisters. —17t 18e per afcre. Up-to-Da.te (local seed).—Well known and a general favorite with all growers. The variety is showing signs df running out.—l3t 9c per acre. ' Up f'to - Date (Southland seed) . Haulms very strong , and.' vi.gor.oiis/, tubers shapely and- mime.rpus'.—i6t.loc per acre. -. Daniel's Sensation.—An Irish production of sterling; quality. 'Tubers of nice oval shape: very few small; splendm cookers.—l4t 13e per acre.- '; May Queen.—A new variety. Promises to be a favorite.—lst,sc per .acre. Vanguard. —-A good second early. Pink skin,' similar to 'Early ' Rose-'.—lOt 9c per acre. ... Ninetv-fold. —This variety was introduced by Mr M'Gowan from England two years ago. So far it has come well to the fore, and promises well. Tubers round.—Pit 17c per acre. Sir John Llewelyn.—One of the best first earlies. White skins; a good cropper; nicely flavored. A general favorite. —lit So per acre. Irish Queen. —The famous new potato of Ireland. A great blight resister. Haulms very strong, of upright growth, tubers large, inclined to be deep-eyed, a fine cooker and a'heavy cropper. Introduced by Mr M'Gowan last., vear. Still in the experimental.plots-.—2ot- 14c per acre. Marshland Queen. —Introduced with the above from Ireland'. A nice-looking variety; tubers of perfect shape; a. good conker. —17t oc per acre. Black Skerry.—Also introduced with Irish Queen. One of the most viaoi-ous growers in Mr M'Gowan's plots. Tubers almost- black skinned.—lSt 17c per acre. White City.—■lntroduced...from England last- year, and still in the experimental plots. It is a first early.''Whitp skin, of good flavor, and -may prove a favorite.' —13t 5c per acre. Red Kidney..—lntroduced with White City. 'Appears to be an approved 'Robin Adair.—lOt 17c per acre. Gem of the South. —A Tasmanian seedling. Should find favor, for it is undoubtedly a good one, being a good blight resister, a heavy .cropper, and of fine flavor.- —16t 9c per acre, Ireland's Farewell. —An Irish potato. Tubers quite round; blue skin; nicely flavored; splendid show potato.-—lOt 6c per acre. Fongeree.—A Chatham Island seedling, of nice quality and fair crop.— lOt 18c per acre. . The following varieties were introduced by Mr M'Gowan from Washington two years ago. They are still in the experimental plots, but he intends to bring them out next year. The results are very satisfactory, and Mr M'Gowan hopes to give the potatogrowers of New Zealand something good ; whereby their .crops will ' be much > superior to those now being grown:—; ? • Washington Dry Land Potato. —This is an exceptionally early. It is red .skinned and is suited only for very dry • land of a sandy nature—7t.l6c per acre.

Improved .Early Rose.. —A improvement'' on .'.the old Early Rose. Haulms fairly heavy; skin light pink and netted. —18t 16c per acre. ' Burpee-'s Improved Early.—A fine skinned, oval tuber of good flavor; very early.—lot 9c per acre. White Mechanic—One." of the finest' potatoes yet handled by Mr M'Gowan. Strong grower, beautifully-shaped , tubers ; skin much netted ; good keeper.—; 20ft 16c per acre. . •,> :..-. f Burbank (improved)!— Anothe- good' .white. Tubers well shaped, oval of fine flavor; also a blight resister.: —12ft 16c per acre. Netted Gein.—Of special. . merit. Noted for its much netted skin, and fine shape. Probably one of the finest flavored potatoes.—-lot 19c per acre. Great American Dry to the Washington Dry Land potato.—lOt 16c per acre. Irish:Cobbler.—One of the finest first earlies grown./ The favorite in America 'for. flavor. An extensive 'cropper.—lot 12c per acre. Freeman.—A good early, and a fair cropper.—lit 5c per acre. Purple Breeze. —A potato of peculiar growth. Haulms very strong and-hard; tubers numerous, though inclined to be small. A purple skin, netted; of excellent flavor.—lOt 16c per acre. The following varieties. were received from the United States Agricultural Department this, season,, and, were..planted as late as January 20. They -will be kept in the expertnaental plots for an-; other tVKj years before going on the market, -" and then only those which prove themselves superior, to'' what is now grown will be kept :■■ —Extra Early Red Rose, Extra EarlyWhite.Rose, Early Ohio, Green 'Mountain, Bovee, Bliss Triumph, Early Rose, Piqua Chief,, Rural New Yorker, Imported Dakota Red. Noroton Beauty, Irish Cobbler, Early Six Weeks, Imported Early -Vermont, American Giant, Market Prize. Polaris. Thoroughbred. Crown Jewel, Imported Beauty of Hebron, State of Maine, Burpee's Extra Early, Mammus Enormous, and Crine's'Lightning. —Summary of Results. —

. Readers' attention must be drawn tothe different results obtained by planting a change of seed in the two Up-tp-Date classes: The results were obtained from seed planted in the ordinary way, with a mould plough, opening the furrows, planting, and then breaking the furrows. The ground had formerly been cropped for six years with wheat and oats. The season was not a good one,, for as a result of heavy spring rains, the ground melted together, and then the summer's-drought made it. as hard as a rock,. Princess Victoria still maintains a good lead, "and is now a general favorite with all Willowbridge growers. Some of the. varieties, if planted on swamp or heavy groundj would give much' more prolific crops, such as Sutton's Discovery. Northern Star, Solanum Commersoni (violet)., Cliff Kidney, and Scotia. —Manures. — ? Results obtained. by using different manures: — The planting"took J t>laee on November 14. 1909. The soil was inclined to be sandy and dry. Several wheat and oat crops had previously been taken

. from the land, thus giving-the manures J.ev.eivy^facility.-j.UHprp.ve-thilLr iiaiej^-iduc.^

Grosh I Manure used. result " Plot is obtained. N.O. :-. : r> -' t - C ' I—Canterburyl—Canterbury Farmers' super- _ phosphate ... ; '■! 2—Xo manure ... ' ° 4 3—Eclipse brand—special P°" ~ tato manure Jl ' 4—Xo manure ... ••• ■:• 8 « s—Canterbury Farmers', super. and holies .•■• tu ib 6—Xo manure ..: ••• . ••- ° T 7 —Buchanan's sulphate ot am- .. monia and potash mixture 14 i_ B—No8 —No manure ••' ' 9—Ohlendorf's . super and' - : bones ~..-,^: .-: h - ,» 18 I 10 —No manure ...J, •. ■-. ' -,-,••- °,^ 11—Ohlendorf's ''super'- ... ■* ■■'■ It l^ 12—No manure, .... ••• ..•:■. ° g I 13—Kami* ..•"' L ° I^—No manure, ••*. ° ° 15—Pareora special, potato ma- ■ mire " l ° 16 —No manure a ° The manure was put on at the rate of 4cwt-per. acre> and in , every instance the result has- been satisfactory, although much more so with some mixtures than with others. No. / plot gav« "aboiii 6 tons per acre for the nmnurSng. - With potatoes at, say, i* 10s per ton, tins,means £2l per acre—a handsoin'e return for,the expendrture, 30s worth of manure. "Of course Mr | M'Gowan does not contend that there would bo equal . differences in results every ieason in consequence ot the _ use of mahiire: v:This particular paddock had. been' previously heavily cropped and heeded' Manure,, and the result shows how well,it responded. The seasqu i r avored' maimriiig. The same number of tubers were, under the tops ot : the plots which were not manured but ' they did not attain;the size of those ' wliere the manure was used, lhe re : - suit was the same in every, instance, the difference gained being in the nv. f crease-in sizfeof the tubers not m- ' number'of potatoes Mr M'Gowan "was . surprised that kainit gave such a good return.'and; he. thinks it would have been even better if he had mixed alt- , tle'tiasic' slag, with it. • Next year lui : .hop'es'ta carry on the manuring ments on a much large scale, with a larger variety of manures, i l"he'se ;; experiments were conducted uriUer t.he:.supervision of Mr A,. Maopherson, .Government Inspector ot Jix perimental work. ,