POOR POTATO CROP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 30, 5 February 1935, Page 10

POOR POTATO CROP

PRICES RISE SHARPLY. EFFECT OF DRY WEATHER Th© price of potatoes advanced sharply at the Auckland markets on Friday, when up to 5s 6d a sugar bag of 561 b. was paid for good quality, states the N.Z. Herald. The rise is due to the dry weather, which has resulted in crops now being dug being lighter in output and inferior in size. Growers in the Pukekohe, Bombay, Avondale and Taniaki district! all report excessively dry conditions, quite unsuitable for potatoes. Of these districts Pukekohe has been the worst sufferer as rains which fell in «<her parts of the province were not experienced there. The position is further complicated by the dry soil conditions allowing easy penetration by the grub of the potato Hy. Infection by the grub renders the potatoes useless and in some instances losses from his source alone have been las much as 20 per eent. Under normal conditions the fly lays her eggs in the leaves, and as damp resists the passage of the grub into the ground damage is usually confined to the tops, but this season the grubs have penetrated into the tubers. It appears that until the arrival of South Island supplies in April there will possibly be a Shortage, with consequent higher prices, unless abundant supplies are available in Rangitikei, | Hawke’s Bay and Ohakune, from which | district potatoes are sometimes drwwn let this time of the year.