47G THE farmers' handbook. 



SECTION VI. 



Root Crops* 



THE POTATO.* 



Though largely grown in New South Wales, the potato as a crop has not 

 received the attention from farmers that is due to it, and for a number of 

 years this State has had to import largely from Tasmania and Victoria to 

 make up the deficiency in our production, the importations being almost 

 equal to the quantity grown within the boundaries of the State. 



The oft-asked question, why potatoes from other States are worth so much 

 more than the local product, is best answered by visits to the wharves in 

 Sydney harbour, where the interstate supplies are unloaded, and to the 

 Alexandria railway yards, where our local produce is sold. The interstate 

 potatoes are well graded, of good shape, free from dirt, and put up in new 

 bags, whereas the local tubers, in the majority of cases, are of all shapes 

 and sizes, and put up in second-hand bags which very often contain a large 

 percentage of dirt. A few of our local growers pay special attention 

 to their potatoes, with the result that their name is soon established, and 

 buyers can purchase with every confidence, and consequently pay higher 

 prices; but the bulk of our produce is marketed in anything but an attrac- 

 tive manner. 



Preparation of the Soil. 



Although the potato as a pioneer crop may be sometimes relied upon to 

 yield good returns with little cultivation, it is usually found that the crop 

 requires the best of attention in every detail. 



On the coastal areas the extensive culture of potatoes during the autumn 

 is not recommended, because the conditions favour Irish blight, and growers 

 should confine their attention during this period of the year to the prepara- 

 tion of the soil for the spring crop by planting a preparation crop. Mr. 

 A. H. Haywood, when Manager of Grafton Experiment Farm, advised 

 farmers to practise fallowing between their maize and potato crops, even 

 though the period was short. When maize is harvested in June the land 

 should be ploughed at once, the stalks being turned under and allowed to 

 decay, forming the humus that is so essential to fertility. 



He found at Grafton that whenever the ploughing was left till imme- 

 diately prior to sowing the succeeding potato crop, there seemed to be more 

 trouble with insects as well as a reduced yield. " We never practise even 

 that short fallow of a couple oi months," said Mr. Haywood, " without 

 getting better crops and greater freedom from insect pests." 



On the tablelands the preparation of the soil should be commenced during 

 the winter months. There are many advantages attached to early and 

 thorough working of the soil, some of them being direct and others indirect, 

 but all are quite important in relation to the final result. 



* A. J. Pinn, Inspector of Agriculture. 



