TESTS WITH POTATOES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19864, 11 June 1927, Page 21 (Supplement)

TESTS WITH POTATOES

NITRATE OF SODA EFFECTS ■ Some time ago Mr. J. McGinty, of Tasmania, who is a member of the j Burnie branch of the Agricultural Bureau, received haJf a cwt. of nitrate of soda for experimental purposes. Two plots of new land, each a third of an acre in area, at Ridgely were marked out side by side, bodi being sown with medium top round seed Brownell potatoes, and manured with six cwt. of 22 per cent, super per acre. One plot, in addition, was top-dressed with the half cwt. of nitrate of soda along the middle of the rows ahead of the moulder at hilling-up time, and apparently this aas made a remarkable difference in the yield of this particular plot compared with the other. On digging the two crops the one which received the topdressing of nitrate yielded at the rate of 9 tons 3cwt. to the acre compared with 7tons lewt. to the acre on the other. From the first only two bags of small potatoes were secured, the other realising four. Mr. McGinty stated that prior to being ploughed the land had been cleared of bracken fern and was in soured condition. The nitrate started to make itself manifest about three weeks from the time of top-dressing, and although the tubers obtained were no more in number than secured from the other plot, there was a great difference in size and appearances generally. They were free from disease of any kind, and the nitrate did not have the effect of increasing the top growth of the plants to any extent, the benefit being derived it the bottom. Mr. McGinty added that it was his first intention to sow the same land with oats almost immediately, and he was of the opinion that the nitrate would again be the means of creating a marked difference in the two yields of the two plots.

ROYAL SHOW

ALTERATION OF DATE. The question of the time of the year at which to hold the Royal Show was brought up and discussed at the annual meeting of the Royal Show. On behalf of the council, the president (Mr. W. Perry) moved that future Royal Shows be held in the autumn. Small breeders, he contended, would be able to show stock in better condition in the autumn than they could in the early spring. If members could combine taking a few prizes with getting a good price for their young stock they would be much better satisfied. Mr. Kalaugher (N.Z. Friesian Breeders’ Association) said that a Royal Show should be a champion of champions’ display, and this could only be done by holding the show in the autumn. Sir Douglas McLean said they should make the Royal Show a display apart and not hold it as at present in connection with the provincial show. On the motion of Mr. J. Knight, seconded by Mr. T. Webb, the council were asked to take into consideration the advisability of holding the Royal Show in the autumn, after the views of the A. and P. associations and breed societies had been ascertained. Mr. W. W. Massey said that the success which had attended the holding of the Royal Show' at Auckland had fully exploded the arguments that Royal Shows could only prove a sue cess at Christchurch or Palmerston North. The fact that the majority of the championships had been carried off by stock from a distance showed that the stock had not suffered by the journey. Mr. E. Hay. president of the Canterbury A. and P. Association, was of opinion that in the interests of the society the Royal Show should only be held at two central points in each island. They could not expect South land breeders to exhibit at Auckland, neither would they get Auckland stock at a Royal Show at Invercargill.

iu 1926 a total of 41 head of purebred dairy cattle were exported from New Zealand. Of these, 14 went to Argentina, 23 to Australia, three to Fiji, anti one to Tonga, their total declared value being £3521. This compares with 93 head of a total value of £5200 exported for the preceding year. It w'ill be noted that, though the number of cattle exported showed a fall-ing-off, the average value per head shows a very marked increase.