FARMING NEWS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 7, 7 December 1936, Page 5

FARMING NEWS.

RURAL BAKINGS. Due to the wet spring pastures along the Manawatu Line are carrying large quantities of grass, but haymaking has been considerably retarded by the unsettled weather. Stock are in splendid condition. Huge quantities of new potatoes are now leaving Ptikekohe daily. A goods train left for the South the other afternoon loaded entirely with potatoes. There were 35 trucks, carrying approximately 200 tons. Tho heavy rains in South Canterbury last month have been a mixed blessing to fruit farmers. From small fruit orchards come reports of fairly extensive damage to strawberry crops and in apple, pear, and stone fruit orchards nothing but •beneficial results have come from the plentiful moisture in the soil.

The markets throughout the Waikato during the last week have not been large, for, owing to the broken weather and abundance of feed, farmers are holding most of their stock. Tho offerings of prime cattle- are on the small side, and the tendency has been for prices to ease, although at the central yards on Tuesday ox beef was penned in average numbers, ami for good quality stock tho prices were excellent. Maize values are now the highest for several years and Gisborne growers are asking 6s a bushel, f.o.b. No sales have been reported at this figure and at the present time there is no rush to sell because growers arc too busy on their own properties to send supplies into town. Furthermore, Auckland, merchants arc not interested at a price which would need to be about 3d cheaper to attract' business. Substantial quantities of Gisborne maize wore disposed of on forward delivery early in the season and these lots have gone forward, hut a number of growers have held their stocks which remain in the cribs.