GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 18, 22 January 1929, Page 4

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

BUSINESS ON QUIET SIDE.

POTATO STOCKS SMALLER. ONIONS COMING IN FREELY. • i — ! There has been very little change in the position of the grain and produce market. The glut of potatoes has worked off a little owing to smaller quantities coming forward, but there are ample sup- i plies ready for digging. Maize is being brought from Gisborne, but the demand is poor owing to the hot weather. A short-1 age exists at the moment of pollard, but plenty of bran is offering. The hot weather is ripening off the onions rapidly, with the result that larger quantities are being sent in. The position of the grain crops in the South Island as far as harvesting is concerned, is stated to be that unseasonable weather about Christmas time had caused some damage to wheat, oat and barley crops. In some districts the grain has been flattened down. Weather since then has been more favourable for harvesting. Blenheim chaff will be late in reaching the market this year, some estimates being not before the beginning of March. It is also stated that owing to unfavourable harvesting weather there will not be so much good bright offering. In Canterbury the early onions are beginning to be sent in, and sales were made at £7 per ton on trucks. The first of the main crop is expected to be ready for market about the end of February. As far as the Canterbury -potatoes are concerned, Christchurch merchants, in reply to inquiries from Auckland for quotations for forward delivery, were not anxious to quote until lines were actually purchased to cover sales. Old season's wheat is offered in the South, but millers are stated to be carrying good stocks, added to which they have already entered into contracts to buy the new season's grain. Potatoes. Sales of, potatoes are being made at Pukekohe at £5 15/ per ton on railway trucks, which is rather low for so early in the season. Smaller supplies sent to Auckland had the effect of steadying prices during the week. Quotations, ex store, Auckland, are £8 per ton. In Otago the potato crops are looking well, and weather conditions have improved. Onions. Larger quantities of onions are coming forward, and with the hot weather the tubers are in good dry condition. Priccs are unaltered. Milling Wheat. A message from Dunedin is to the effect that it is estimated there are still 1,000,000 bushels of Tuscan wheat from last season yet to be marketed, and it will n< ?„ , e o nS before the new season's grain will be ready. Fowl Wheat. No new season's fowl wheat has come to hand yet from tlie South. Old season's is selling in Auckland at 7/9, cx store. Oats. Business is dull in oats at the present trme at 4/8, ex store. In Christchurch the new season's Algerian oats show the effect of the bad weather last December, the colour of the grain not being bright. There are still last season's Algerian oats in merchants hands to-be cleared. Cocksfoot. Cutting cocksfoot seed has started in the Akaroa Peninsula, but so far quotations have not been established. Maize. Supplies for this market are being drawn from Gisborne, where the price for maize is 5/3, f.0.b., which means 6/6 ex store 'Auckland. Demand for maize is P°or this hot weather. Most of the Bay M ty mal2e . n °w goes direct to the Waikato and King Country, very little reaching Auckland. Bran and Sharps. Ample supplies of bran are offering, but sharps are very hard to get just now, and the price is £10 5/ to £10 10/, ex store. Bran is quoted at £8 10/ per ton Chaff. The market for chaff continues firm, and will continue so until the new season's chaff reaches this market from the South. Usually chaff from Picton reaches Auckland market early in February, but this year it will probably be a month later. FERTILISERS. Due chiefly to the low prices offering tor this month, local manufacturers arc busy putting out large tonnage of hi-li grade super 44/46 per cent and basic super. I further very heavy tonnage on these lines, absorbing the output of all works, is booked for delivery in February. Manufacturers are holding sufficient stocks to meet this position, while ample supplies of raw materials are in hand and coniing forward. The early shipments of basic slag are expected to arrive during the next week or two, while the Cowden Law is due next week with a shipment of Ocean Island phosphate. It is expected that the topdressing throughout the province will be heavy during this autumn, which will no doubt ensure ample feed for the late autumn and throughout the winter period.