VEGETABLE GROWING IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 



On the tablelands the main crop is planted during October and November. 

 A few growers plant in September for early use, but the risk from frost is great. 



The amount of seed required to plant an acre is approximately 10 cwt. 

 more or less according to size. 



Hilling. 



Towards flowering time the rows should be slightly hilled to protect the 

 tubers from sun-scald, frosts, and potato moth. 



New tubers always develop over the older ones, and as they become large 

 they will push out of the soil until perhaps half out of the ground if no 

 hilling is done. 



At the same time the hilling should not be excessive^ as it increases the 

 tendency of the soil to dry out, ancl also is apt to damage the roots between 

 the rows. 



Hilling is a preventive of rot during outbreaks o Irish Blight, inasmuch 

 as the increased thickness of soil over the tubers to a large extent prevents 

 the washing of the spores from the foliage on to the tubers. 



Varieties. 



There are many varieties of potatoes, but a selection may be made from 

 the list hereunder, which should satisfy any condition or market *. 



Coastal Districts. Early Manistee, Satisfaction, Manhattan, Up-to- 



Date, Carman No. 1, Factor, Brownell's Beauty. 



Tableland Districts Satisfaction, Early Manistee, Manhattan, Carman 

 No. 1, Brownell's Beauty, Up-to-Date, Factor, Queen of the Valley 

 Surprise, Coronation, Magnum Bonum. The last four can only 

 be grown for the main crop, as they are very late in maturity. 



Lifting and Storing. 



For the harvesting of the crop, machines have only proved satisfactory on 

 free-working, sandy soils. Digging is mostly done by hand, at a contract 

 rate of about Is. 6d. per bag, according to crop. 



The early coastal crop is lifted as soon as the tubers are large enough and 

 firm enough to carry ; at this time the haulms are green, but the lower leaves 

 are yellowing off. Main crops are dug for storage when the haulms have 

 died off, and the sooner they can be dug after reaching that stage the better. 

 If left until midwinter, the weather is disagreeable and much time is lost, 

 while digging is heavier and the tubers do not clean. 



Table potatoes are usually stored through the winter in pits. The con- 

 dition of the potatoes at pitting time is important. They should be as dry 

 as possible, and if the ^weather permits it is advisable to eave the pits 

 covered with straw only until sweating has subsided, when earthing-up may 

 be completed and drainage provided. 



Diseases and Pests. 



Dry rot (page 100) ; early blight (page 101) ; eel worm (page 118); Irish 

 blight (page 101); potato moth (page 120); scab (page 107); wire-worm 

 (page 127). 



