GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 292, 10 December 1929, Page 4

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

OATS GETTING SCARCE. MAIZE FIRMS UP. The chief variation in the local grain and j produce markets is that oats seem to be j jetting scarce, and merchants are finding lifficulty in obtaining Southern supplies, j in inquiry yesterday for B gartons j 'rom a Christchurcli firm brought the j •eply that none could be offered I 'rom Canterbury, but a couple of parcels of A's could be obtained j i'om the Bluff. Local prices are firming J jp in consequence, with the unusual i'ea-1 ;ure of A's and B's commanding almost an j equivalent price. B's are worth 4/10 and j 4,'s 4/11, ex store. j Chaff, too, continues in short supply, and t is only the paucity of orders, due to the i iecreasing use of horses and the fact that ;he country is full of green feed, that has prevented an acute shortage. Potatoes. Local potatoes are quite plentiful, but most of the business for the city goes past the merchants at this time of year, the bulk going direct from small growers to retail shops, or via the auction marts. Pukekohe supplies are plentiful, and are now being quoted at £8 per ton on trucks. A fair amount of Southern buying has been done for next season's crop on the basis of £5 to £5 5/ per ton, f.o.b. Saturday's "Christchurcli Times" reports:— "Forward sales of next season's potato srop for delivery April-June have been restricted during the last few days. The recent heartening rain, however, has made farmers more inclined to sell forward. It is known that Several hundreds of tons have changed hands in this way in the last week or ten days. The area sown in potatoes is greater than last year." Wheat and Maize. There is no change in wheat, which sells steadily at 7/10 per bushel. Maize, on the other hand, is inclined to be firmer, and merchants are now demanding 6/6 per bushel, ex store, for good quality lines. They have been looking to Poverty Bay for supplies in the New Year, ind quotations there have advanced 3d per bushel for forward deliveries. Onions.The position in regard to onions is unchanged. Merchants are gradually working jff their stocks of Californian and Canalian, which are selling at very reasonable prices this season. Bran and Pollard. Supplies of bran and pollard are now imple to meet the reduced demand, and quotations are unaltered. Hay and Ensilage. The frequency of showery weather has proved embarrassing to farmers who are ;rying to save hay, and most of those with surplus feed to cut are turning it into ;nsilage for winter use. Wholesale Current Prices. Pollard and Bran.—Mill prices: Pollard, £9 10/ per ton; bran, £8 per ton. Merchants' quotations, ex store: Southern, £10 10/; Australian pollard, £11; bran, £9. • , • Oats—Feed: B Gartons, 4/10 per bushel; i Gartons, 4/11; clipped Dunns, 6/6; clipped Algeriaps, 6/; clipped Gartons, 5/3. Fowl Wheat.—7/10 per bushel. Maize. —6/6 per bushel. Barley.—Feed, 5/6 per bushel. Seed: Cape barley, 6/6 pdr bushel. Maize Meal.—l 4/ to 14/6 per 1001b. Barley Meal.—l 3/ per 1001b. Chaff.—G.b.o.s., £11 10/ per ton, Blenheim or Canterbury; Tasmanian, £9 15/. Potatoes.—New season's, 9/6 per cwt, ex store; Pukekohe, on trucks® £8. Onions.—Californian and Canadian, 15/ bag; 16/ a crate.