SMALL SEEDS AND GRAIN MARKETS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27664, 21 May 1955, Page 8

SMALL SEEDS AND GRAIN MARKETS

(By Our Commercial Editor.) United Kingdom importers are commencing to sound the New Zealand market for small seeds through inquiries of merchants in both islands. Thefe is no suggestion, of course, of any orders materialising in the immediate future. As the bulk of the Dominion’s comparatively slender stocks of the bread and butter lines of the trade—ryegrass and white clover—are held in Christchurch most overseas inquiries are eventually diverted to this centre. Meanwhile, markets remain dormant against the time when overseas buying sets iri, as it must eventually. Apart from a firming in cowgrass, prices- to farmers remain undisturbed. An appreciable quantity of low-germina-tion ryegrass is coming on the market—both perennial and short rotation. Howdormancy in the germination of the latter species is now showing signs of recovering. In a season of comparatively low yields a remarkably high return is credited to d paddock of 20 acres of white clover m the Ellesmere district. After dressing, the net return was 95 sacks of 1601 b, an average of 42 bags an acre. In illustration of the wisdom in buying good seed, this particular paddock—the yield is believed to be a record—was sown down in pedigree seed. Merchants report fewer inquiries than usual for Government stock seed. Orders for seed wheat are still low by comparison with last year. Potato digging is now in full swing in North Canterbury, but the expected rush of orders from the north has still to set Quotations to Farmers Potatoes.—Aucklanders and other preferred whites, £l6 a ton; Dakotas £l5 1 ?, s ’, ar L d other varieties. £l4 15s a ton—all f.0.b., s.e. Wheat.—Us 6d a bushel (on rail, growers’ nearest siding), with the usual variety increments, plus the monthly holding increments Ryegrass (M.D.).—Certified" perennialmother seed, 35s a bushel, p.p. 34s uncertified, 255. Hl: mother, 355; standard 345; uncertified, 255. Italian: mother. 32s 6d, uncertified. 25s—all subject to 98/90 minimum. White Clover (M.D.)—Mother, 5s 9d per lb; p.p., 5s 8d; uncertified, 5s 6d. Red Clover (Cowgrass).—M.D. new crop seed, 4s per lb, 98-90. Cocksfoot.—3s per lb (nominal) for good quality farmers’ dressed seed. Oats.—Gartons, Ils to Ils 6d a bushel; Algerians, Us to 12s a bushel; Duns,, 13s a bushel, and • Black, 12s a bushel. All prices nominal. Chaff.—£23 a ton, on trucks, sacks extra. Ryecorn.—2ss a bushel on trucks, sacks extra.

Onions.—£2o a ton on trucks, bags extra. Browntop.—4s-3d per "lb certified; uncertified, 4s. Jartridge Peas.—No. 1,16 s 6d a bushel; f.a.q., 15s 6d a bushel.