POTATO GROWING IN SCOTLAND.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18443, 29 March 1922, Page 7

POTATO GROWING IN SCOTLAND.

A rather fascinating story of producing early potatoes was given by Mr J. M. Hannah at a recent Conference of Potato Growers in London. Dealing particularly with the Ayrshire coast district in southwestern Scotland, the development of the industry in the past fifty years was traced The Ayrshire aiea extends for about 50 miles, from Ballantrae to West Kilbride. Mr Hannah said the width varies from about 100 yards to about halt a mile, or, in some places, perhaps rather more, from the shore. Much of the soil is of poor quality, and the sustained cropping is due rathei to heavy mauring with seaweed, dung and artificials, than to any advantages in respect of soil or climate In some cases potatoes have been grown on the same land continuously for from 30 to 50 years. The estimated annual area in the country is about 3000 acres. The yield in the beginning of the season —about the middle of June —will average about 5 tons, and before the crop is all lifted it will amount to from 12 to 15 tons per acre In 1914 the cost of growing an acre was put at from £24 to £2B. but that will be far short of the cost in more recent years. It may be from two to two and a half times more. Prices have risen enormously. In 1896 the crop on three farms was sold by auction at prices which ranged from £ll 2/6 to £22 10./. Ten years later the prices ranged from £l7 to £36 10/, with an average just over £24. In 1915 the figure was £33. In 1917 about 750 acres were sold by public auction at an average of £93 10/ per acre. The zenith was reached in 1920 when 14 acres were osld by public auction for £lBl, says Mr Hannah, '“or four times the value of the land on which the crop was grown ” This year there was a big drop, but one rather gathers that, in spite of its highly speculative character, those who purchase at these prices find it overhead rather a profitable business Of course, one excepts from this generalisation prices like those which ruled in 1920. These were simply a phase of the prevailing financial madness.