GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11875, 23 April 1904, Page 8

GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

(BY OUR COMMERCIAL EDITOK.) Friday Evening. As an illustration of the manner in which the quality of Australian wheat is appreciated abroad, it may be mentioned that a. "parcel of several hundred bags has been shipped from Melbourne to Buenos Ayres to be used for seed purposes in the Argentine -Republic. The descriptions principally grown in that country, Barletto and Russo, are red wheate, to which the colour and hardness of Australian wheat form a contrast. There is a fairly good enquiry for wheat on the part of local millers, and several lines have changed hands at late quotations. Merchants are out of the market for the time being, in consequence of there being no further 15s freight at present offering by direct steamer to London. There is not a. large quantity of wheat offering at present prices, but where eettlers are willing to do business on the basis of buyers' rates, sales can be effected. The principal lines reported l to have changed hands during the last few days are 500 bushels of Tuscan at the mill, 6000 bushel, principally pearl, at 2s 9d, at rather more than a 2£d station, and 8000 bushels of Hunter's at a 2£d station. Milling oats are in demand, and owing to their scarcity, are the only variety that maintains any firmness in value. Duns' are also meeting with some enquiry, but short feed are almost unsaleable. There is no outside demand for oats; on the other hand, Australian oats (Algerians) have been shipped to Auckland, and it is ■reported that the quality has not given satisfaction. Victoria has only taken 20,000 sacks of oats from New Zealand since the bet:innu»sj of December, ■as against 95,000 sacks during the same period last year. Australia has had a good oats crop this year, and there is not the same demand for transhipment to South Africa as la.st season. The demand for barley has revived, and malting of both prime and secondary quality is enquired for. Several sales have lately taken place, principally for shipment north. Prime has been sold at 3s Id, and secondary at 2s 2d to 2e 4d, f.o.b. Melbourne is still receiving barley from California, and lias lately shipped 2182 tacks to Japan. Clover seed is offering fairly freely, and some good crops of cowgrass are reported to have been threshed in the northern district. The shipment of Derwent potatoes coastwise has Been about ten times as large this reason as last, and up to the end of this week about 8000 bags will have been sent away. This week's shipments , have been heavy. Prices remain about the same for Derwents and Early Rose, but, owing to the advance in Sydney, kidneys are firmer. The following the current prices paid to farmers, free of commission, except where otherwise specified: — Wheat—Pearl 2s 9d to 2s lOd. Tuscan and Hunter's 2s Bs<i to 2s 9Jd, at country stations. Oats—Heavy Canadians Is 6d, Gartons l«i 4d to Is sd,- short feed Is 4d, Duns Is Ad to Is sd. and Danish Is 3d to Is 4d, at coantrr stations. Barley—Prime malting ss, me*um 2s 3d to 2s 6d, at country stations. Peas —Part rid <ie 3s to 3s 3d, Blue Prussians 3s"to 3s 3d. Blue Imperials 3s 6d to 4s. at country stations. B?ans—2s 8d at country stations. Flour (millers' quotations)— Roller £9 per ton: f.0.b.. £9 Sβ per ton. Pollard—£4 10s. Bran—£3. Oatmeal—£lo. Ryegrass— 2s 6d to 2s 93, Italian 3s to 3s 6d, at country stations. Cocksfoot—lolb to 111b seed. 3d; 121b to 131b. to 3Jd; 151b to 161b, machine dressed, 43d; 171b to 18lb, 54

White Clover—Superior 8d to 9J, good 7d to Bd. Cowgrass—7d to 7sd. Oatslieaf Chaff—£2 ss. «t country stations. Potatoes—Derwents 22s 6d to 255, Early Rose 355, kidneys 45.«, at country stations. Onions—£2 15s, at country stations. Dairy Produce—Cheese, factory, 5Jd to 5Jd; d'airv, 5d to ssd: loaf cheese, 5Jd to 6d; butter, factory, local, IOd; farmer*' separator, 8d io 9d; dairy, 7d to 8d for prime; salt (in boxes). 8d to 9d; bacon, ?id to BAd; hams. BJd to 9d, f.0.b.; eggs, Is 8d per dozen.