THE POTATO BOOM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 8

THE POTATO BOOM.

(Mark Lane Express, October 31.)

We understand that Mr J. P. Carter, of Frieston, 'has sold his 1905 crop of Johnson's new early potato, "The Pearl," at £1000 per ton, to a firm which is interested in the Channel Islandß trade.

Mr Scarlett's (of Edinburgh, the wellknown potato raiser) latest introduction ia •'The Southern Star," a genuine new potato raised from seed taken from Pride of Tonbridge crossed with Improved Ashleaf. Those who saw it at the Crystal Palace show acknowledged it to be a very fine looking potato, and from what the raiser

says, its cropping powers, earliness, and cooking qualities are equal to its appearance.

At a meeting: of the Chelmsford Gardeners' Association recently, papers and speeches on "Tho Potato" were contributed by the chairman, Mr C. Wakelcy, and others, and muoh interesting information was given about tho culture of tubers and the diseases to which they are subject. The experiences related' with reference to the new variety, Northern Star, differed very widely, but it was generally admitted that a disease-resisting potato had not yet been raised, and that the flavour of the new sorts was not so good as many of the older varieties.

During the 'last few days the Eldorado Potato Company, Limited, of Tuokswood, Norwich, have been lifting their batch of seedling potatoes sown this year, and many of these are remarkable for the number and size of the- tubers. In fact, many of the single roots scale over 21b, and tubers are numerous up to £lb. Thi9 i 3 remarkable for* less than a year's growth from seed, but ifc should be noted that the parentage in nearly 'all cases has some of the Northern Star strain.

At a meeting of the Hollandl County Council, held at Spalding on September 29, a deputation from the Lincolnshire Railway Rates Committee asked for the pupport of the council in the proceedings now being taken before the Railway Commissioners against the increased charges by the railway companies for the carriage of potatoes. In the discussion which ensued general sympathy was expressed with the agriculturists in the matter, and the question was raised as to whether the council could legally contribute towards the exjaenses incurred, which it was understood they were asked to do. The clerk, in reply, said the council could legally take such action, and charge the expenses on the rates, but whether they could contribute towards the cost of an action undertaken by another party he was not prepared to say at the moment. Eventually the council adopted the following resolution — "That in view of the serious 'Irard'en thrown on the potato growers of the county by the withdrawal by the railway companies of the rebate until recently allowed' by them on the carriage of potatoes, thu3 seriously increasing the net charge, it 19 resolved that & committee be appointed to confer with the growers, to consider the propriety of the council taking such action against the companies as may be advised, and with executive powers to take any opinions of counsel that may be found neoessary." An amendment was moved to the Last clause of the resolution as to executive powers and counsel's opinion, but it was rejected hy 26 votes to 16.

AUCKLAND, December 16.

The proposal to place thg potato disease in the schedule of the Orchard and Garden Pests Act in order to prohibit the exportation of potatoes from Axickland to other parts of the colbny was discussed at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association today. Mr Pilkington pointed out that the Department of Agriculture in its own publication admitted that the disease existed in the south, and said it would be a very s&rious thing if the exportation of potatoes from Auckland was prohibited. The following motion was adopted, a copy to be sent to the Minister of Lands: — "That this association protests against any action being taken by the Agricultural Department with reference to the potato dis&ase which has appeared in certain localities in Auckland, which will prohibit the exportation of healthy potatoes from this provincial district; also, in the opinion of this association, more time is required to judge wisely as to the action to be taken with respect to this question."

(From Our Own Coukesfondent.)

WELLINGTON, December 17

The result of the outbreak of disease amongst potatoes in the Auckland district is the issue of a Gazette Supplement declaring early blight (Alternaria solani) and potato rot, or Irish potato blight (Phytophthora infestar.s), to be diseases within the meaning of the Orchard and Garden Pests Act. This act provides that the Governor may from time to time, by Order-in-Council gazetted, prohibit the bringing into any specified portion of New Zealand from any other portion of New Zealand of any specified] plant, etc , which in his opinion, is diseased, or is likely to spread disease. The act is a very comprehensive one, and if its regulations are enforced now that the diseases mentioned have been gazetted into the act, the shipment of Auckland potatoes may be entirely sxrppressed for a time.