THE POTATO CROP.

Waipa Post, Volume II, Issue 98, 29 March 1912, Page 4

THE POTATO CROP.

CONDITIONS AND PROSPECTS.

BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR THE FARMER. An interesting review of the IQI2 potato crop is supplied byMr H. E. McGowan, of Willowbridge, South Canterbury, a wellknown authority on the tuber. Mr McGowan has just completed a trip over practically the whole of the Dominion, his object being to see what the crops were like. “In the Auckland district,” says Mr McGowan, “the crops are better than they have been for years, especially in the Waikato and Pukekohe districts, and blight does not appear to have done much damage, the quality of the tubers being sound and good. About 20,000 sacks are still held by growers, but these are gradually coming on to the markets, north and south, so that by the time the southern potatoes are ready 1 would say that the northern stocks will be depleted. “Hawke’s Bay district has been suffering from a severe drought. The potato crops have suffered considerably, and they will be much lighter than usual, though the quality should be good. “In Wellington district I noticed some very fair crops, and the rainfall has been sufficient, There are indications of late blight, and the area does not appear very great. “In Taranaki district some of the crops appear to be very good, though there is every evidence of blight, and with the usual Taranaki rainfall and moist weather I anticipate a lot of damage will be done to the potatoes. DAMAGE BY BLIGHT AND

FLOODS. In North Canterbury there is a large area under crop, f but much damage has been done by the Christmas floods —in fact all the best potatoes, that is those growing in the low-lying countries, are gone, and those which are left have suffered with the heavy rains because the ground remained so long wet and the usual work of weeding, hoeing, and moulding was thereby retarded. Frosts in November and Decerirber played havoc with a great many crops, and I anticipate only about half the yield which was given in the Government statistics. This also ap plies to South Canterbury. In travelling from Oamaru to Timaru one can see whole paddocks of potatoes which have been destroyed by the December-January floods, and the blight appears to be making great head-way in the crops which have not been systematically sprayed. “In the Oamaru district the crops are fair, but with the appearance of blight the grower are getting anxious, and are, in many cases, digging them and putting them on the Dunedin market.

“In Southland there was every indication of good crops until two months ago, but with continual rainssand a blizzard and frost a fortnight ago, the prospects are now anything but promising. The yield is sure to be small. Blight is prevalent.

“In summing up, I consider that the crops of Canterbury and Otago will only yield about half, and Southland about one-third, of what was expected when the Government statistics were taken. Potatoes in Australia are very scarce now, so one can imagine what a demand there will be in Australian markets in the course of a month or so.

GROWERS ADVISED TO HOLD. “I have made a careful observation of the above facts, and my statements are not made at random. I feel justified in advising growers who are lucky enough to have good, sound tubers to store them carefully, for I believe before the end of the present season we will have good prices. Growers who have blight-affected tubers should sell right off the fork or machine, for it will not pay to store blighted tubers.