BENEFICIAL RAINS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26115, 30 March 1946, Page 4

BENEFICIAL RAINS

PREPARATIONS FOR AUTUMN SOWING GOOD RUN FOR HARVEST After a long spell of unbroken weather, a good rain was experienced over the whole of North Otago during Thursday, and while it has held up harvesting, it will do a lot of good and enable farmers to prepare the land for green feed, etc., for autumn sowing. Growers have had a particularly good run with the harvest this season. Pressure has been very heavy on- transport, both road and railway, and there has in consequence been considerable congestion at the mills and stores. Wheat. —With the exception of stacked wheat most of the harvest has been threshed and delivered. There are odd lines in the district still waiting for the headers. Owing to the heavy dews and the fog, some of this wheat has not been headed in a very .satisfactory condition, and will remain in the paddocks for conditioning. Inquiries are now coming to hand for seed for the winter sowing. Oats. —With the exception of contracts, comparatively few white oats are coming forward. There are quite a number of lines of Duns on offer, and these are being purchased at 4s 6d to 4s 9d 0.t., according to sample. There is little interest in Algerian at the moment, and the same applies to black oats. Chaff.—This is inquired for from the North Island at ceiling prices, and g.b.o.s. quality, but owing to the shortage of shipping space, which is acute, it is not possible to cut chaff for delivery in the meantime. Untii there is a clearance of wool from the stores it is impossible to handle all the produce offering through store. Hay.—The North Island is still inquiring for supplies of lucerne and meadow hay. Reports from Auckland state that hay from South Canterbury arrived in very bad condition, the principal trouble being in regard to broken bales. North Otago growers are asked to see that their hay is in good condition and fit for transport before tendering it for shipment. Seeds.—There is still a good demand from the North Island for most seeds offering, but the difficulty is getting shipping space from the Port of Oamaru. Germination tests of grass seeds coming to hand are not very satisfactory, and supplies of perennial ryegrass appear to be on the short side. There is very little life in the cocksfoot market. There are numerous lines in store awaiting dressing. The retail demand is still quiet.