AMERICAN WHEAT CROP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20901, 17 June 1931, Page 5

AMERICAN WHEAT CROP.

DROUGHT IN NORTH-WEST. A SERIOUS SITUATION. (Received Juno IG, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 15. Tho Weather Bureau says a drought worse than the blistering dryness of last year has gripped the north-west, from Wisconsin to tho Pacific coast. Much of tlio wheat and other crops are said to be beyond recovery. Tho ( prospects for relief are slight. The condition of the spring wheat is described as tho poorest on record. In tho remainder of the country, however, there is sufficient moisture for present needs. In consequence of the reports of tho disaster which is threatening tho northwestern area, an agitation, led by Mr. J. T. Walsh, Democrat member of tlio Senate for Montana, has been begun for a special session of Congress, to give relief to the farmers of that district. The chairman of tho Federal Farm Hoard, Mr. Stone, admits that the losses of tho whoatfarmers in Montana and North Dakota will be heavy, but he said such losses would benefit farmers in other ureas. lie also stated that tho reports of a poor Canadian wheat crop, and of tho decreased acreago planted in Australia and Argentina would result in prices for tho 1931 crop being much better.

THE CITY MARKETS. YESTERDAY'S AUCTIONS. SYDNEY FRUIT ARRIVES. Cooking apples continue to meet with a better demand in the City Markets than most varieties of dessert. The season for Cape gooseberries is almost finished. No oxtra choice quality grapes came forward yesterday. A fresh consignment arrived from Sydney and these will bo offered this morning. Increased quantities of tree tomatoes aro now coming forward. Prices for lemons have dropped considerably over the past week. The Hikurangi is duo from Norfolk Island with bananas and other fruit on Monday. Pineapples, ex the Sydney steamer, yesterday made from 15s to 22s a caso and mandarins and oranges 9s to 12s a case.

The market continues well supplied with all seasonal varieties of vegetables. Potatoes, in particular, arc heavily supplied. Tho market for eggs continues to declino and first-grade hen eggs sold at 2s 3d a dozen yesterday, compared with 2s 8d a week ago. Prices in the City Markets yesterday for average quality lines ranged as follows :—■ FRUIT. Apples, Delicious, ex cooler, 4b to Gs Od a case; others, Us to 4s; Munroes, 3s to 5s Gd: Ballarats. r,g to (is lid; Jonathan, 5s to tja fid; Jupp Russets, 4s to Gs Gd; Granny Smith, Gs to 7s 6d; Pride of Australia. 4s to ss; Homo Beauty, 5s to Gs; pears, Coles and Nellis, large, 9s to 9s Gd a case; small, 5s to 7s; P. Barry, Gs to 8s; tomatoes, choice hothouse, 7d to 8d a lb; small, 4d to Gd; outdoor, 2s to 7s a case; tree tomatoes, 4s to 7s; Cape gooseberries, 7d to 8d a lb; passions, 3s to 5s a case; grapes,' Coleman, choice, Is Gd to Is lOd a lb; others. 9d to Is 3d; guavas. 3s to Gs a case; oranges, Island, according to count, 9s to 12s a case; Australian navels, 9s to lis; bananas, ripo repacks, up to 27s Gd a case; mediums, 18s to 225; lemons, 5s to 93 a case; New Zealand grapefruit, 4s to 83 a case. „ VEGETABLES.

Potatoes, Southern, 8s Gd to 10s Gd a flack; local, 3s 1o 3s 9d a. bag; onions, 5b to Gs 3d a bag; 10s to 12s a cental; kumaras. local, 5s 6d to 7s a bag; lauranga, if in good order, 12s to 14s a cwt; cabbage, 33 to 7s a 6ack; cauliflower, 3s to 8s a sack; swedes. 2s to 2s Gd a bag; pumpkins, 4s to 8s a cwt; citron melons, (is to 8s a cwt; beans, Gd to Is a lb; lettuce. 2s to 7s Gd a case; cucumbers, hothouse, 3s Gd to 7s a dozen; vegetable marrows. 2s 6d to 4s a dozen; cabbage, loose, Is to 3s a dozen; cauliflowers, loose, 2s to 8s a dozen; celery. Is to 3s a bundle; rhubarb, 2s Gd to 4s a dozen; spinach, Is to Is 3d a dozen; pumpkins, loose, Gd to is Gd each; radish, Gd to 9d a dozen: spring onions, 4d to 8d a bundle; carrots, parsnips, beet and turnips, 6d to 8d a dozen; leeks. 3d to Gd a bundle; chokos, 6d to Is 3d a dozen. POULTRY. Cockerels, heavy breeds, prime, 4s to 5s 3d each; not prime, 2s Gd upward; light breeds, prime, 2s 6d to 3s Gd; not prime. Is Gd upward; fat roosters, heavy breeds, prime, 2s to 3a; light breeds, Is 6d to 2s; fat hens, heavy breeds, 2s Gd to 3s 6d; light breeds, 2s to 2s 6d: laying hens, light breeds, 3a to 3s 9d; pullets, heavy breeds. Gs to 8s 6d; smaller, 3s upward; light breeds, 4s 6d to 7s 6d; smaller, 3s upward; drakes, young, prime, 3s 3d to 4s; smaller, 2s Gd upward; ducks, 2s 9d to 4s Gd; old, "a 6d to 3s; turkey hens, 4s to 5s 6d; gobblers, Ga to 10s; geese, 33 6d to 4s Gd. DAIRY PRODUCE. Hen eggs, special grade, 2s 3d a dozen; A grade. 2s Id; B grade, Is lid; C grade, Is sd. Duck eggs, special grade, 2s 2d a' dozen: A grade, 2n; B grade, la lOd; t, grade, Is Gd. Fanners' butter, lid to Is let a lb. NEW USES FOR GRAIN. RESEARCH IN CANADA. New uses for surplus slocks of wheat and other grains are being sought by the National Research Council of Canada. Experts aro making careful study of tho possibilities of using surplus grain for tho manufacture of fuel, alcohol, starch, glucose, acids and lacquers. Tho council reports that a beginning has been made on tho problem of finding profitable uses for tho fifty million tons of straw Canada produces each year, a by-product of grain and largely wasted. Tho fifty thousand tons of screenings, largely weed seeds, which accumulate each year at tho terminal elevators at Port Arthur and Fort William, Ontario, also liavo come in for attention, and it is stated that "interesting results" have been achieved indicating that they can bo made to yield oil for soap making, fertilisers, and possibly stock food.

WESTFIELD SALEYARDS. STOKE STOCK LIMITATION. Stock auctioneers operating at the Westfield saleyards announco that no store cattle, sheep or lambs will be accepted for sale on Wednesdays in future. A grader has been appointed to see that the new regulation is observed. Store pigs and calves, however, may still bo sent in. On a number of occasions in recent weeks tho u.sunl weekly fat stock sale has not finished until well after dark. One of the reasons has been the increasing numbers of store stock yarded. HIDES AND SKINS. AUCKLAND SALE. At tho fortnightly hides nnd skins sale held by the Auckland Woolbrokers' Association yesteroay, an exceptionally big offering came forward. Exporters nro not keen to do business in tho country at the moment, and more hides nnd skins are being eent into the auctions. Prices showed an allround easier tendency. Sheepskins reflected the easier tone in the Bradford market Best salted ekins made up to around 2s- 4d euch; dry skins innde up to around 3Jd a lb. Tho increase in the Australian exchange rates has practically put an end to all export business in hides to the Commonwealth, nnd the market has suffered accordingly There was a decline of almost Id a lb. all round. Best ox hides made up to around 4id a lb.; bout cow, to ftjd; calfskins mada up around 7d a lb. DAIRY PRODUCE PRICES. Joseph Nathan and Company, Limited, has received the following cablegram from London: —Butter, Ills; market steadier. Cheese market unchanged, -