GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11189, 1 February 1902, Page 9

GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

(BT OUB COKKEBCtU. X&IXQ&.) Friday evening. The mail advices do not show any partioatar feature as regards tie .position of the growing crops in Europe and America. According to "Dombusah'' of December 20th the appearance of the French wheat crop was favourably commented upon. In (Spain, the appearance of tihe wheat fields was improved by the rains, and a&hough very low temperature waa experienced in some provinces, tfoere was no apparent detriment to the young crops. Italian advices staibed tfhat tihe weather on the whole •was favourable. The official estimate of the 1901 crop ie 17,767,000 quarters, against 15,475,000 quarters for the previous year, or an increase of 2,292,000 quarters. From Hungary it was reported that unsettled weatiher, with frost following rain, was not Jjeoefioiai to the autumn-sown crops, and snow was desired to protect the wheat. With regard to the United States, the "Cincinnati Price Current" of December 19th reported as follows:—The first severe cold spell of the season over the winter wheat states is now being experienced, but no apparent ham has been done to the growing crop, as tihe cold weatiher was fortunately preceded by general rains, .which turned to snow, covering practically the w-bole oif the area., Whth such favourable conditions the crop is iradntaining a satisfactory position. , There is nothing fresh to report in ipgard to old wheat, the market toeing firm, as holders, having confidence in the future on account oif *he lightness of the new crop, axe not inclined to sell. Several samples of new Wheat have been submitted but, Tvitfh one exception, they were tco soft to temp£ buyers to niafce an offer. A -line o£ Tuscan, nice ■ and dry, was, however, purchased -at:2a 7d at ..a. count cy station. ■

There is a good, <Jemand for new oats, both, for export and local consumption. Sales have been made ut Is Sd, to Is 10d for long and Is lid to 2s lot- short oats at country ; ■ < Nothing is yet known, locally concerning the cable message, received by'the Premier tihat a large order for general produce, oiostly oats, for South Africa, would be placed in New Zealand, and it is thought it may refer to the contract for oats tiiat ibas already been let The "Australasian," in referring to the cable news tfoat the. War Office was buying oats in New Zealand, says:—"On a cost, of 25.2 d per bushel, and at a freight of 32s £d\ per ton, no profit would be left to' the contractors at the price at which the War Office is? buying, viz., 23s 6d per quarter, cost, freight, and insurance. As fche oats'are "wanted for "military purposes, the risk of demurrage would be slight." It is reported that a few lines of barley have been purchased by merchants at Ss to 3s l|d at country stations, but growers are generally asfciig considerably above this ngure. v Regarding the market for barley the "Australasian" says:—"Owing to the scarcity of really good and prime qualities of new yiotorian barley,, arrangements t have been -made for importing from New Zealand and California. A fair quantity has •berei > ordered from New Zealand, and 2000 tons <pf' Californian 'barley have been purchased. • Prime Victorian barley has 'had sales on spotj at 4s Bd, and medium to good , samples are worth about 4s to 4s 6d.'' The new season's crop of early potatoes is now being- offered to merchants, but so far there hae been little. r demand for cojistal shipments. For Beauty of Hebrons £2 to £2 5s at country stations is offered. There is.a. good ,eaiquiry for onions, and £4 aft country, stations is being paid. ' The following' are current prices paid to farinere, f.0.5"., Lytteiton; and free of commieeion,. except WJwre otherwise specified,:— . , . ' t Wheatr-Hanter/s, pearl, and Tuscan, 2s lid to 3s, f<o.b. f ,•«„,. Old Oate (nominal)—Ss 4d to 2s f .0.b.; new oate,' long Is 9d to Is 10d, short feed Is lid to & at country stations. Barley (aew)—3s to 3e at country stations; ' 8d to 2s 9d, ! f.oJb. ■ - *■ ; Elolir (millers , quotations)— Roller. £7 10s.*" < - Shraaps^—£4 6s. -■* ■ ~ " " . PolUud—£4 5a per ton. Bran—£3 10s. ■ - .

Oasmeal —i&3",~'f.d/b. ' ; " v & Hebrto i 32 to £2 5a at country stations., - . ". at coiintry stations. r B&j-r£2 10e to £2 lfy, delivered. ■ Qrase Seed— Ryegrass, pirinie heavy towndressed 3s to 3s-% cocksfoot 2|d to 3d, cowgrase 6d io choice 7d, white clover 6d to Bd, delivered; ; Dairy Produce—Cheese,' factory 4d to 4id, d«iry 4d; butter, factory, local Ud, North Island 10d,' dairy Bd'-to 9d, salt (in boxes) Bd;'W»n, factory bacon and hams j4 higher; f.o.b.