GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13249, 17 October 1908, Page 11

GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

(bt our commercial editor.) Friday Evening. As usual at the end. of August, the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture has issued his preliminary estimate of the world's grain crops, based as regards foreign countries on Austro-Hungarian Consular reports, and as regards Austria and Hungary on tho official Government reports. Tho total world's crop—wheat, rye, barley, oats, and maize—is aggregating 3,156,000,000 metric centals, or 1,641,000,000 quarters, against last year's revised figures of 3.057.000,000 metric centals, or 1,053,0C0,000 quarters. Tho wheat crop, at tho estimato of 339,000,000 quarters, is roughly xour million quarters below last year, and rye shows a decrease of fifteen million quarters. On the other hand, oarley is supposed, to give an increase on last year of 11_ million quarters; oats an increase of 361 million quarters, and maize an increase of 21 million quarters. Tho countries which have to import wheat aro estimate*.! to produce 243\ million metric centals, against 2-30J mil; lion raised last year. Th*. countries which liavo as a rule surplus supplies for export are credited 1 with producing this year 602 million metric centals, against 553 million last- year. That is to say. the imparting countries will probably have a wheat crop about 17. million metric centals smaller than a year ago; while the exporting countries may give about fourteen million metric centals more than in 1907. so that the not deficiency will amonnt to about 3.000,000 metric centals, or, say, 1.500,000 quarters as regards tho worlds wheat crop. Tho demand for wheat locally has slackened off, a-nd few sales havo been made this week. Growers are also asking movo. and this has tended to restrict business. A few lots havo changed hands at 4s ljd at country stations, and on©, lino of GGO sacks in North Canterbury for 4s 3d, for shipment at Kaiapoi.

There is nothing to record in oati There was a demand for chaff for ship mem b} \hv _j_ney boat next week and up to £3 10s was paid to obtah supplies, but the requirements of chip pers are now filled, and the price L back to £3 os. There is not much doing in potatoes, and prioes are -without- change, thougli growers are asking £'3 IG_. The undermentioned are the prices paid to farmers, at country stations, lree of commitcion, er.ec-pt where other-wi.'-vo stated: — Wheat. 4s Id, at country stations. Oats, ls 9d to ls'lOd, at country stations. Peas— Partridges 3s 6d to 3s 9d, Prussian Blues os Gd, at country stations. Flour, £10 10s per ton. Bran, £4 15s local, £4 10s f.o.b. per ton. Pollard, £0 per ton. ' Oatmeal, £12 per ton. Oatsheaf chaff, £3 os at country stations. Potatoes—Derwents and Up-to-date; £3 os to £3 7s 6:!, and teed Derwcnts and Up-to-Jates £3 lCs, at country stations. Dairy produce—Cherse, factory 6*d' dairy 6:l* loaf cheese 6id ; butter, faetory*l2d. farm-era' separator IOJd, d iry 9'd; bacon, sides S.]:3, rolls 91d, hams I'd; honov, extracted 4d per lb, wax Ls 2d per lb: bird (packets) 8d; fresh «__> lid per dozen.