CANTERBURY CROPS

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 22, 25 January 1919, Page 10

CANTERBURY CROPS

(II TELEGRAPH.—PRISS ASSOCIATION.)

CHRISTCHURCH, 24th Jan,

The high nor'-vvesfc winds during the week have done some damage in shaking the ripe crops and generally knocking standing grain about as well a.s overturning stooks. Since the rain of last week tlie weather has continued very dry. The shortage of coal seems likely to delay threshing, so that there will be very little done out of stook. Early-cut oats are now in stack, and as there is little prospect of threshing crops generally will bo secured as soon as possible. So far as the oat crops are concerned, this will mean bright-coloured straw and grain, and as the grain will be better filled than for1 several years past, the quality of both grain and chaff will he much above the average. Very few lots of new oats have yet changed hands. A line of Algerians has been sold at 4s 8d per bushel at a country station. Some business has been done m season's chaff at £6 per ton for early February delivery, and £5 10a for March delivery, at country stations. Merchant*' experience with forward business last year was, far from satisfactory, and there is, therefore, <i likelihood of much leas of this business being done on grain and produce this season. A number of offers to do forward business in oats, for instance, has been declined. The fact that crops are better than usual, and that the North Island is better provided with oats, hay, and other fodder crops than last year, tends to restrict operations at the present time. Some white clover is being ofiered, but the prices asked are considered too high, in view of the.facfc that there is a good supply of last eea.ion's seed still in hand, and can be bought relatively lower than prices asked for new season's seed. The potato crops are looking well, and show the good effects of last week's rain. Judging by the way the early crops axe turning out, the main crop shouldyield above the average. A few sales of autumn-sown onions have been made at £8 per ton at country stations.