GOOD PROSPECTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26677, 24 January 1948, Page 3

GOOD PROSPECTS

THE SEED MARKET FAVOURABLE WEATHER FOR HARVESTING Favourable harvesting weather has been experienced during the week, and where the cutting of new season's crops has commenced, operations have progressed without any hold-ups because of the weather. A survey of the wheat and oat crops throughout Otago would indicate that, generally speaking, yields should be up to an aveage standard, and P res ] , n ~ dications are that the quality should also be reasonably good. . . The area in both wheat and ° ats *? less than that of the previous season but barley shows a slight increase. Practically all the barlev produced is grown under contract and 'there will be very little free harlev There is a ready outlet at tile present time" for all cereals as well as all varieties of peas, and consequently lines will be readily taken up as they become available. The releases of Government wheat are not sufficient for the immediate demand, and the only ing further supplies is for the Goyer ment to make aval able some of the wheat held for milling purposes. The demand for’chaff is restricted to « tYia ii lots for spot requirements and 1 * is not likely that there will be any shipments from this port for some time i potato crops are looking psibcularly well and thev should have beenfited considerably bv the rain experienced a wedc ago It will be at least two months before the digging of main crop varieties C °H ll has 'been a quiet week in small seeds as no export business is taking place, and merchants have no retail orders to execute at this time of the year, as farmers are mostly busy harvesting. There is still a good deal of uncertainty regarding the j u . t . ure markets for all lines, and the positio will not clear itself until it is learned whether or not there will be any lifting ofy the restrictions on the importation of seeds in Gieat Britain. A number of lines of farmers’ dressed ryegrass have come into the stores for dressing and, while lighter in weight than usual, it is generally expected that the germination this year will be high. There is still some carry-over of last season’s perennial ryegrass, Italian and HI, and merchants are endeavouring to dispose of these before concentrating on (Eowgrass and Montgomery red clover crops aTe looking very well, though the area sown for seed is smaller than usual. On the other hand, the clover crops are much earlier than usual, and the quality in consequence should be excellent. The white clover crop in Canterbury is also being saved in particularly good condition, but it is yet a little early to give a pronouncement on the quality ot the Otago crop. The quantity of crested dogstail to be harvested this year will be about normal, whereas last year the crop was the largest on record. A few lines of cocksfoot have made their appearance, and here, too, the quality isigood.