GRAIN CROPS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9137, 9 February 1910, Page 5

GRAIN CROPS.

IN CANTERBURY

(Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHTJRCH, Feb. 9. During the week there has been a great change in the weather conditions, persistent rain giving way to warm sunshine and drying winds, the result being that 'grain in stook has dried rapidly and the work of gathering has continued without intermission since. The condition of the grain reported has improved greatly since the rain, and now it is not anticipated that the damage will be as widespread as was at one time feared. A considerable amount of work has yet to be done, but given another fortnight of favourable weather there will not be a great amount of stuff left unfathered in the northern part of the j Province. The amount of grain plac- I ed on offer during the last week has been comparatively email, but for offerings there has been a ready sale, sainples in sound condition commanding good competition, prices ranging from 4s to 4s Id on trucks at country stations. These prices are not fixed on English values, but on local requirements, and it ie fair to assume they will be maintained only as long as the demand exists. Farmers have been ready sellers, but merchants have not shown any disposition to operate freely, being dubious as to the condition of the grain. Oats are not coming forward in large quantities. Samples shown during the week have been fairly .good, the quality not having been damaged by the weather to nearly the extent anticipated some time ago. Many crops threshed have yielded unsatisfactorily, the return per acre being disappointingly low, while samples have invariably been light.