SOWING ALMOST COMPLETED

Southland Times, Issue 24593, 15 November 1941, Page 8

SOWING ALMOST COMPLETED

CROPS FOR PRODUCE SCHEME GOOD RETURNS EXPECTED With the exception of turnips, the sowing of crops for the Invercargill City Council’s produce scheme has now been completed. The scheme was introduced at the outbreak of the war as an emergency war measure and has proved very successful. It has caused a remarkable transformation on many acres of previously unused or undeveloped parklands and reserves. This is the third year of the scheme and if the weather is favourable for the growing and ripening of the crops the yields are expected to be at least as heavy as those of last season. Three crops will be harvested this year. They are potatoes, oats and grass, and turnips, covering a area of 66 acres, compared with 62 acres last season. Following is the acreage of this season’s planting, with last season’s figures given in parentheses:—Potatoes, 25 acres (22); oats and grass, 32 (28); turnips 9 (12). POTATOES FOR CAMPS Eighty tons of last season’s yield of potatoes were shipped to the military camps in the North Island, and it' is expected that camps will again be supplied next year. The planting of 25 acres of potatoes in various parts of Turnbull-Thomson Park has just been completed. The main potato planting has been done in an area east of Lindisfarne road adjoining David street, and several acres have also been planted behind the State houses in Islington street. The weather will play a big part in the success of the crop, but the yield is expected to be at least as big as that of last season. Thirty-two acres have been sown in oats and grass and they include an area of 10 acres in Islington street. This area was levelled off last year and will be used as a playing area next year. The biggest area is that east of Lindisfarne road, where only oats have been sown. The ground in this area will be broken up again next year. Another six acres have been sown in oats and grass behind the State houses in Tweed street, and it is also proposed to plant six acres of turnips in the vicinity. This area, which was previously infested with gorse and had to be cleared, ploughed and cultivated, will eventually form a parkland. The turnip crop will be planted about the end of this month and the main area will be that west of Lindisfarne road. This will complete the season’s planting for the produce scheme.