CULTIVATION OF POTATOES

Southland Times, Issue 24001, 16 December 1939, Page 12

CULTIVATION OF POTATOES

Lessons From Italy

BAMBOO AS SHELTER FOR VEGETABLES Mr John Douglas, special instructor in the New South Wales Department of Agriculture, who is making an eight months’ tour of Southern Europe, has found much of interest to vegetable growers in the intense culture methods of Italy and France. “In Italy,” he writes from London, “there was no scarcity of vegetables in any district I visited. Every farm is more or less self-contained, with a great range of first-class vegetables. Around the large cities market gardeners thrive, and in well-defined areas larger vegetables growers cater for the canners’ needs.

“Around Naples the growers specialize in tomato culture, particularly for the sauce trade. All the varieties grown belong to the San Marzana type: I found many individual selections of this variety. They all had marked diseases resistance and produce the highest quality tomato puree. One of these varieties was specially bred as a good keeper. The large bunches of small tomatoes were hung in the kitchens of the houses and kept for periods up to a year. I was particularly fortunate in obtaining a large range of tomato seeds in this area. USES OF BAMBOO “In Northern Italy the growing technique for early potatoes is very similar to that carried out in Australia. They have, however, greatly utilized the common bamboo in vegetable growing. The bamboo is grown as a large windbreak along each side, and often right through the paddock. At a specified time each autumn the whole of the bamboos are cut down and trimmed. They are then used in many ways. “From an Australian point of view this bamboo would undoubtedly suit western conditions, where the price of wooden stakes is prohibitive. The Italians utilize the bamboo, not only as a stake, but also for crate-making, miniature seedling pots, fuel, and dozens of other pinposes. I consider thta in centres such as the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area and Menindee the growing of soft bamboo will, be an important feature in the development of the tomato-growing industry. “Right through Italy the whole ol the countryside, from the land between the olive trees up to the top of the mountains, is devoted to wheat culture. Even many of the very rich soils on the reclaimed Pontine marshes are devoted to wheat. The whole of tiie grass lands are mown during the spring months for hay-making. Even the public parks in many places are scythed and the grass is turned into hay.

CROPS IN SOUTHERN FRANCE

“The country in the south of France is very similar in many respects to the hottest vegetable growing areas of New South Wales. The vegetable growers in France are perhaps the best in the world. They are not only conversant with the latest methods .of growing a very wide range of crops, but they are also past-masters in such fine points as seed selection. I had presented to me varieties of tomatoes which had been selected by one family for as long as 80 years. Many of these varieties would be suitable for Australian conditions and may prove to be superior to the varieties we are growing at present. “Slight frosts occur in the south of France each winter, but they are not considered serious enough for the glasshouse grower to go to the expense of installing a heating system. The means taken by these growers to overcome the frosts, and also the technique carried out in the growing of , the tomatoes under glass are certainly worthy of trial under Australian conditions. It was very interesting to investigate the many uncommon types of vegetables marketed in this area. It is' from this part of France that many seed merchants draw a big range of vegetable and flower seeds.”