BANKS PENINSULA COCKSFOOT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 23

BANKS PENINSULA COCKSFOOT.

STATISTICS FOR 1907 AND 1908 Mr A. Monizson (of Messrs A. Moritz6on and Co.), who is now on the Peninsula * purchasing seed for various firms, has jnst finished compiling the cocksfoot statistics for Banks Peninsula. Ihe crop, promised to be -very disappointing, taking everything into consideration, has not turned out as badly as was anticipated. The shortage is due to the extraordinary dry winter and summer, but the country Toeing heavily stocked the cocksfoot land had to suffer accordingly, and, rr oreover, the farmers will not be able to put their stock back into the paddocks as early as they would wish owing to want of feed, and, by doing so they would injure not only the carrying capacity of the land, but also the likely cocksfoot returns for next year. Last year's crop was 67,846 sacks of riddled seed. This year there is a total available crop oi 53,429 sacks, which shows a shortage on last year of 14,417 sacks. These figure* are sufficiently correct for statistical purposes. The principal shortages are about as follows: — Little River ebout 3000 sacks; Pigeon and Holmes's Bays, about 2000; Okain's, 1300; Port JLevy, 700; Little Akaloa and Chorlton, 1200; Le Bon's Bay, 351; Akaroa Water«hed, 5000. These figures show that the bays in Akaroa watershed and Little River have suffered most from the drought. Quality of Seed.— The cocksfoot this year is exceptionally bright, and as most of the threshing is done, there is little _ fear of having any discoloured seed this year. The seed right through is fairly clean. .There is a little fog, the single cape weed, »nd very little goosegrass, which is chiefly «t the lower ends of the bays. The seed merchants should be able to >lean the farmers' riddled at not more than Id a lb. The natural weight, considering the <dry season, have turned out very well. So far Mr Moritzson had only submitted to him samples varying from 12. 13, and 141b. He. however, believes there will "be some 10 or 111b seed about. The kernel is well developed, so there will be little loss of weight for the buyer, as the seed has been well harvested, and the germinating power promises to be good. values. — Messrs Moritzson and Co. have cabled London giving full particulars of the crop last week, and expect a reply in regard to the values for the new crop ahortly. The market has opened, and buyers have made purchases at from 4gd to sid f.o.b. the various bays. The lower price refers to 10 and 111b seed, and tho higher values to- 12, 13, and 141b seed. Present operations are solely confined to supplying the North Island demand, where sowing is now proceeding. Mr Moritzson assures us that the Home shippers, or speculators, are adverse to start operations «t the present high values which are paid to the farmers. A considerable /lumber of these operators are under the impression that as soon as the North Island demand, ■which may be, perhaps. 8000 or 10.000 sacks, is satisfied that the market must come back. London at the nresent time quotes values for 171b and 181b seed firm at from 75s to J6s per cwt, ex store, or 2s 6d les3 for c.i.f. quotation. The little seed in London is firmly held, and hence the stiff prices. Shippers, however, at present values, basing their purchases at 5H at the bays, may clean and rush some 10 000 bags to London before the end of April to get the benefit of the high values nilini? there at present. The fact of this proceeding may be a slight easing of the markpt by 5s per cwt, as during the months of Ma; - ch and April, the latter end of the sowing season in Europe, the market >s very sensitive there in regard to fresh supplies. Mr Moritzson gave us the following particulars how present colonial values rarci to farmers • will work out to the shipper in Condon: — Cost paid to farmers 5d per lb Cleaning charges Id per lb Charges, such as freight, from the Bays to Addington. harbour dues in and out, haulage out to put f.o.b 3d per lb 6Jd per lb Equal to 60s 9d a cwt _.. 60s 9d Preight and primage to London, insurance, exchange, London commission, landing and warehouse charges •• 8s cwt 68s 9d Should the London market maintain at 75s and 765, there is margin of profit for the shipper if he purchases at sd ; but it does not arive him any margin whatever for likely fall of even 5s or 6s in London at the end o£ the season, which is very lilrelv to occur. There is a gTeat deal of difference for the shipper to operate like last year at from 3^d to 4d, as ajiainsb this year at from 44d to sid. The bulk of this year's crop will have to be marketed after the North Island demand is over, and London will not operate to any extent on the 1908 crop until they are assured that there will be no cocksfoot available from the United States in August. Although America has at no time # supplied latsre quantities, the average being from 20,000 to 30,000 sacks when they had a good erorj there, it is admitted by everybody that even this quantity has a disturbing effect upon New Zealand values.