HARVESTING CONTINUES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27028, 12 March 1949, Page 3

HARVESTING CONTINUES

GOOD QUALITY BARLEY

SEED MARKET QUIET Harvesting operations continue throughout Otago, and the flush of the deliveries is now coming to hand. ' The quality of the barley from the Lakes district is generally good, and the percentage of undergrade lines will be very small.

Some particularly good samples of both partridge peas and garden peas are also being received. There have been some excellent yields recorded, particularly where growing conditions were favourable during the summer. In the Maniototo district, where a long spell of dry weather was experienced, crops in most cases have been failures. The area in oats is yielding well, but the quality of the wheat samples so far to hand is not as good as those received last year. Inquiries are coming to hand from the North Island for oats, and good quality lines are readily saleable.

The demand for chaff is limited, and sufficient supplies are available to meet the local requirements. Digging of the main crop potatoes has noit yet commenced, but with the fine weather experienced over the past few weeks, crops are ripening quickly and it is expected that some areas will be ready for lifting by the end of the month. Little business has been recorded in seeds during the week, and there is a disinclination on the part of merchants to quote for the majority of lines, especially at the prices that have been ruling over the past week or two. Tire position overseas regarding the extent to which licences will be issued for the exportation of seeds to Great Britain is causing a great deal of concern to the trade, and until some definite pronouncement is made, prices for all seed lines that, are likely to be exported will be hard to assess accurately. Inquiries have been received during the week for high testing lines of certified perennial ryegrass and also for short rotation ryegrass, and there is a tendency for prices to harden. While the crop of Italian ryegrass this year has been a very small one, there has been a sufficient carry-over from last year to fill requirements for some time to come.

A few inquiries are being received for crested dogstail and also for Chewings fescue. Heavy yields of both these lines are reported from Southland. Good yields of browntop are expected, but the price will depend on whether licences will be granted for shipment to Great Britain. The cocksfoot market remains firm.