GRAIN AND PRODUCE

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 110, 3 February 1930, Page 6

GRAIN AND PRODUCE

DUNEDIN MARKET Dominion Special Service. Dunedia, January 31. In the wheat market no business will be done with the millers until the new crop is available, which will be some tiine yet, so far as Otago is concerned. Prices nominally remain unchanged, although the local market for fowl wheat is slightly firmer. Stocks of oats locally are bad, and merchants have had to go to other ports to fill the few orders that are coming to hand. The value of A grade Gartons is 3/11 per bushel, f.0.b., s.i,, and of B. grade 3/10 . per.bushel for prompt shipment. Nominal • values for April-September are 3/11 to 4/-.; B’s, 3/7 to 3/8 per bushel, f.0.b., s.i. The crops in Otago are looking fairly well, but once the millers and merchants have secured their supplies, there will be little left over to meet what shipping, demand there / may be. Chaff remains steady, the bulk of the city’s supplies still being drawn from Southern districts. Best quality is worth £B/10/- per ton, ex store, sacks extra. A fail; number of samples of seeds of the new crop (farmers’ dressed), of perennial, Italian and Western wolths, have come to hind during the week, chiefly from the Ashburton district nnd prices show a sharp advance on what was being asked. For first lines that were available, a fortnight ajto. 4/6 per bushel on trucks was considered to be full value, but there is nothing obtainable to-day under 5/- per bushel for lots of only medium quality, while up to 5/6 per bushel is being asked for perennial. Cocksfoot is also firm, but very few lines have yet made their appearance. The Fruit Market. A very busy week has been experienced in the fruit market, filth large supplies of all varieties offering. Apples, mainly Gravensteins, are arriving from Nelson and Central Otago, and have a good demand. Beauty of Bath are practically finished, and any'comtng forward are readily taken „ up. Bananas are in short supply, with no sign of further supplies for the present. Oranges are in good supply, but there is only a fair demand. Apricots are in full supply, and prices are.ruling at rates as low as will be found at any time during the season. Choice lines in crates have a good demand. Choice dessert plums are wanted. As high as 10-Jd. per lb. was obtained during the week for a variety of Wixen plum grown by G. M. Marshall, of Earnscleugh. Thia is said to be a record price in the local market for plums. Burbanks are offering from Canterbury, and some fine samples are coming forward. Cherries and strawberries are about finished for the season, and only an odd lot is Homing forward. Peaches, mainly Triumphs, are in good supply, and prices are a little easier. Bed and black currants are practically finished, and’fbr anything coming forward there is a keen demand. Nectarines aro forward in small lots, and high prices are .being obtained. Dessert pears have a keen demand, with good prices ruling. Loganberries have been in short supply, and are realising high prices. Raspberries are in good supply, and have a fair demand. Prices, however, are low. considering the smallness of crops. The tomato market has been irregular. CHRISTCHURCH MARKETS From the point or view of harvesting January has been most unsatisfactory in Canterbury. Ryegrass and a few early oats are the only lines threshel, but not a great deal of.these has been put through the mill. Much or these crops is In stook ready for threshing. ’ There is a good deal of wheat ready for cutting. Millers are still using supplies of last season’s wheat, of which theje is stated to be plenty for the requirements of ‘the near future. Forward selling is not brisk. Early oats are somewhat on the light side, but the wet weather in the last four or fire weeks has greatly benefited the middle and late crops. No new season’s Gartons are on the market, but merchants state that their prospective value is from 8/- to 3/3 a bushel to farmers.- Forward sales of A grade Gartons have been made at 3/11, f.0.b.. s.i.. for April-September delivery. B grade are quoted at 3/9, but buyers desire to purchase at a lower figure. Algerians have been sold at from 3/3 to 3/6 a bushel to farmers. ' No Duns are on the market yet, but they should open at from 3/6,t0 3/9. The oat crop will be less than last year, and values are correspondingly higher. Owing to the lesser area sown in New Zealand, and to the comparative poorness of the yield, Algerians are being imported to the North Island from ■ Australia. To’ compete with the Australian etuff it is Stafed that 3/6 a bushel on trucks fop good quality will be the highest price • that farmers can expect. The crop has been ample for the previous two or three years, before which oats were imported Irani Canada and Australis. The area in barley is well up to the average and the crops are promising very well, tlie rain in-the last five or six weeks havi«g been very beneficial. New season’s linseed will not be on the market for another couple of months yet. The crops are doing well. Owing to possible damage to the potato •rop through the recent wet spell, farmers are not keen to make forward sales at reI eent values of £3/12/6 to £3/15/- a ton for whites, and from £3/15/- to £3/17/6 for Dakotas. North Island firms are not keen buyers. Very little business has been done at from £4/17/0 to £5 a ton, f.0.b., for April-May-June shipment. The following are quotations for proi Alice to be paid to farmers, on trucks, free of commission, sacks extra, except where otherwise stated:— New Season’s Wheat.—s/9 per bushel for Tuscan. 6/- for Hunters, and 6/3 for Pearl, for good milling quality. Chaff.—New season’s £5 a ton, March delivery. Potatoes (New Season’s).—Dakotas £3/15/- to £3/17/6 a ton, whites £3/12/6 to £3/15/- a ton. For April-May-June delivery. Onions (New Season's). —£3/15/- a ton for March-April delivery. Red Clover (Old Season’s). —Id. to 6d. per lb. White Clover (Old Season’s). —Cd. to 1/- per lb. Partridge Peas (Old Season’s).—s/6 to 4/3 a buhel. ' Perennial Ryegrass (New Seasons).— Vo to 5/3 per bushel. Italian Ryegrass (New Season’s).—4/3 to 1/9 per bushel.: Cocksfoot (New Season’s)'.—Gd. to *<i. per lb. in/ ,ran l P er t° n > f'O.b.. southern ports; 1 “k ” J ol ' small «r packings. tor'?7iH < i!L who,e!(alc Price, £l6/5/•remont/ r„ 200 b ’ , sacks - with the usual in£li’!'r/ aller Packings. Price for nc per ton f o b ~