THE SEASON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1911, 6 July 1888, Page 7

THE SEASON.

The weather continues all that can be desired for agricultural operations, and never has seed been got in under mote favourable conditions. With the exception of a few light showers the weather has been dry and bright, and the frosls at night haVe not been severe. Turnips are lasting out well, and grass still affords a good bite, to that lire stock on the low country are in the best of condition. Far back among the rtmgcf , wher« " nor'-west weather " penetrates so, thore have been heavy falls of sndw, and sheep are faring none too well. The fine weather has enabled farmers to get their work into an unusually forward state) and has led to wheat being planted to a far greater extent than would have been the case in an ordinary winter. This is tbe more noteworthy as o&ts are now worth as much, weight for weight, as wheat — that is to say that good oats are worth Is lOd per 401b ; and good wheat 2a 9d per 60lb, \ both f.0.b., in fact, oats are more saleable than wheat at the prices mentioned. Seeing the good prospects of the sheep market, most farmers would like to keep their land in grass or simply break up and bow turnips with grass seeds ; but very little land in Canterbury is equal to this system of cultivation, and a grain crop must be taken whether it of itself is or is not profitable. Very welcome to many small farmers is the improved market for potatoes in Sydney. At country stations good lots are worth SOfl a ton, and buyers will even examine them where they are put on rail. It need hardly be said that this concession is a valuable one, for farmers have been wont to declare that once their potatoes got to Ly ttelton they did r ot know how they were to be picked owr ard otherwise dealt with. Still worse has bean fib growers' fate when their potatoes were re-sorted in Sydney. Sometimei the quantity ultimately accepted by tha consignee has not been sufficient to pay the charges on the shipment. Dairy produce, too, is looking up. Good export butter, in kegs, is selling at 8d to 9d and cheese at 3d to 3£d Select dairies bring an advance on these priceJ The Home market appears to be glutted with cocksfoot seed, and ie is feared that this, combined with high rates of freight, will leave a poor return to shippers. The prospect of the establishment of dairy factories has led several large cocksfoot farmers to declare that they will not save the grass for seed next season. Bacon curers are doing a very large trade this season. The best bacon pork is worth 3.Jd to 3|d per lb. Prime beef may be quoted at l«s per 1001b, secondary and inferior down to 14s. Prime crossbred mutton is selling at the rate of 2Ad par lb, and some choice merino wethers have exceeded this rate. Anything at all eatable brings 2d per lb. Store cattle and sheep in good forward condition still appear dearer than fat, so strong is^ the demand. Good young dairy cows are also in good demand, and bring £7 to £9 ; older andiinferior, £3 to £6. '