CANTERBURY CROPS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 1210, 7 January 1925, Page 6

CANTERBURY CROPS.

PRODUCE MARKET QUOTATIONS. CIIRISTCHURCII. Jan. 6. Business has scarcely got going again after tho holiday break. Generally the damage to crops by the Christmas week storm was not nearly so bad as reported at tho time. North of the Waimakiriri river there has been a good deal of rust in all classes of crops and the caterpillar is doing damage in oat fields. The crop most affected is barley, which received a great buffeting, and a much lower yield than was expected may be looked for. Most of the barley is being grown under contract. Tho proportion of flattened oat crops is very small, but there will bo a big quantity of inferior samples. Some Algerians have been threshed und offered. In the meantime merchants are not inclined to quote now season's prices and on the other hand farmers are not disposed to accept what prices are offering. It is recognised that damage has been done to oat crops, but there is such an area in that a big surplus is inevitable. Algerians are nominally quoted at 2s 9d to 3s per bushel on trucks and gartons at about 2a lOd to 3s 4d.

Many fields of ryegrass have been destroyed by the weather, but there has been a very, heavy saving. Merchants are not prepared to offer more than 2s 9d to 3s per bushel on trucks for Italian and 3s for perennial. Peas occupy a much smaller area this year, but crops are looking well. The weather has not been favourable to tho white clover crop, and it is possible that white clover will not bo plentiful. Cocksfoot will probably be in short supply. The crops on the Peninsular are not so clean as usual.

The potato crop is looking well. The weather has been conducive to a great growth of haulm and favourable weather is needed to avoid the development of blight. Merchants are offering from £3 15s to £4 per ton for main crop deliveries, but growers are not prepared to do business on this basis. The onion crop is looking particularly well. A 3 the area is substantially larger than last season and the crop much better, there will be an improved yield. February deliveries are worth £4 15s to £5 per ton on trucks and £4 to £4 5s for MarchApril delivery.