Good Inquiry For Seeds By U.K.

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31382, 30 May 1967, Page 9

Good Inquiry For Seeds By U.K.

Perennial and Ariki rye grass with a good purity and germination test are meeting quite a strong inquiry from United' Kingdom and Continental buyers. A Christchurch grain and seed merchant said this week that the good inquiry for high-testing seed reflected toe fact that there was quite a lot of blind seed during toe last harvest United Kingdom buyers appear to have made most of their purchases for prompt delivery. Inquiries now being received by local merchants are for later shipment—some of them as late as November and December. Prices to growers have shown a rising trend since the end of the main harvest Even white clover, which earlier in the season was quoted (to toe grower) at less than 2s per lb, has risen a few pence. In contrast with the situation prevailing 12 months ago. there is a good inquiry from European buyers for maple peas, but at competitive prices. Some large parcels have been shipped, and

a steady inquiry is being maintained.

To toe grower, maple peas are worth about 12s 6d a bushel on trucks for field samples, and 15s a bushel dressed. Prices have also finned for grain. Feed barley has risen proportionately with malting barley, since toe malsters raised toe price from 8s IOJd to 9s fld a bushel

Merchants are also receiving more inquiries for oats. With serious damage to pastuxes In parts of Mid-Canter-bury because of porina and grass grub infestation, sheep fanners have been turning to

oats as an alternative form of winter feeding. Gartons are now worth about 8s a bushel to the grower, while Algerians and winter greys are quoted at 7s. A North Island demand for Canterbury potatoes had been very steady until toe end of the railway strike, but it baa since tapered off. Local merchants conclude that while too strike was on, digging of northern crops was accelerated so that the present demand la being adequately met In Canterbury, potato prices are considerably higher than they wore a year ago, but merchants pointed out that growers could not continue to grow potatoes at last year’s prices. Prices, then, were only marginal and many growers ended toe season showing a loss.

While the acreage la lower, crops are digging out reasonably well Following is a range of prices to the grower for small seeds. The Canterbury Grein, Seed and Produce Merchants* Association emphasised that it was a nominal one, that it was conditional on a 99/90 purity and germination teat, and rumex free In toe working samples:— Perennial ryegrass: Mother 18s 6d a bushel, p.p. 18e. Hl ryegrass: Mother 16s, standard 15s.

Ariki ryegrass: Pedigree or mother, 13s. Italian ryegrass: Mother 12 s, standard Ils. White clbver: Mother 2s 4d a lb, p.p. 2s 3d. Cowgrass: Is 6d a lb. Cocksfoot (85/85 purity and germination), Grasslands: Pedigree or mother 5s s H>.