AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 20

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

An Ashburton resident says that the cereal crops in tho Gerafdine district are looking- wall. Tho wheat is now quite ripe, and ready for harvesting, but a continuance of the rain would cause the uncut grain to sprout. The turnip and other root crops have benefited 1: greatly by the lats rains, says our informant. A farmer from the upper Ashburton districts informed an Ashburton Mail reporter that the rain meant the salvation of tho rape .and turnip crops, which were looking very miserable less than a week ago. He added that late-sown cereal crops would also dtr hu shrdlu shrdlu shrdlu ehrdlu aa also derive much benefit from the moisture. The damage done by the recent hailstorm at Waikakahi proves to have been even more serious than was at first thought. One settler (Mr Coskerie) estimates his locs at £7OO. Mr J. Dowthwaifce, of Waimate, a wellknown breeder of sheep, is transferring some of his best sheep to his farm at Wanganui. On Tuesday afternoon 72 of his stud Border Leicesters were shipped from Tima.ru. Mr Dowthwaife has no intention of leaving South. Canterbury. Mr H. E. M'Gowan, of Willowbridge, a very successful potato grower, has had 24 varieties of potatoes sent co him by the Agricultural Department of the Ignited States for experimental growing. Pie has found that American seed generally fiourishes in soil. The dryness of the season in the Gore district has affected the grass and turnip crops. Sheep and lambs are not very forward, but killing operations have been resumed in the freezing works. The export of produce from- South Canterbury to northern ports is heavier than usual for this time of tho year. In past years coastal trade leaving Tima.ru in January were seldom more than half full, but this? season they are all receiving as much caroro as they can stow in their holds. The output of poultry in Canterbury numbers close en a quarter of a million birds annually. The average number of birds disposed of at the' Saturday sales in Christchurch is more than 2000. Prices are good for this time of .the year but eggs a.vo somewhat easier than, last season, h.ia;hcla&s laying stock being bred in larger numbers. CANTfcIiBURr MARKETS OHRISTCHTJRCH GRAIN AND PRODUCE REPORT. (Lyttelton Times, . January 22.) The wet weather which 'has prevailed during the past few days has momentarily put a stop to harvest operations,' but there is now every sign of the weather clearing, and during the coming week harvesting will be in full swing in all;; parts of Canterbury. So> far, the samples' of wheat that have been placed on offer have been few in number, and the quality shows great variation, according to the district in which it was grown. Old season's grain still commands former prices, but new season's grain is selling at somewhat lower prices, buyers being in many cases somewhat doubtful as to its condition.. During the week sales have been made on a basis of from 3s 9d to 3s :the latter pricehaving been paid for prime quality Tuscan. A factor which prevents exporters operating is the difficulty, .in leouring freight, little being obtainable for some time. There is a great shortage of cornsacks, and in many cases merchants have cleared the whole' of their stocks. A full shipinaeht is expected to arrive in Lyttelton within the next 10 clays, but it is doubtful • whether this will suffice' to meet the demand.-: Little of the new season's oats has yet come forward —indeed, supplies have been barely large enough to meet the demand tor shipment coastwise. Algerians are chiefly in, advance, other varieties being scarce. Last season's stocks are now very low, and command prices quite up to quotations, but for the new season's cereal the general price at which sales have been made has been from Is 6d to Is 6£d on trucks at country stations, but in a few cases prices from a halfpenny to a penny higher 'have been asked and given for parcels''of veory prime oats. It is generally believed that the barley crop will be smaller than last year, mainly as a result of the severe storm on Christmas Day, which broke the straw, preventing the grain from maturing properly. In consequence of this many of the samples, although of excellent colour, are thin: and attenuated, with the result that there is a very wide range of prices, super samples (realising as mwh as 4s per bushel, while lines of a poorer grade range down to 2s 9d. As yet tho offerings have been limited:.

The following quotations are for purchases from farmers, net cash, sacks extra, except where otherwise specified : Wheat (last season's)—Tuscan and pearl 4s Id to 4s 2d, Hunters 4s Id to 4s 2s, at country stations, chickwheat 3s 6dl to 3s &d, new season's 3s 9tl to 3s lO^d. Oats— Duns la 6d to Is 7dJ, Danish Is 5-£d to Is &£d, Gortons A grade 1* 8d to In 8 Ad B grade Is 6d to Is 7d, sparrowbills Is bkd, Canadians Is 7£d, Algerians Is &d to Is 7d. , , , Barley—2s 9d to 4s per bushel. Chaff—Oatsheaf £1 17s 6d to £2, at country stations. Beans—2s lOd to 3s. Onions—Strings, Id per lb. Oatmeal-£lO I*. , Flour—The New Zealand FlowrrrM llers Co-operative Association, Limited, quotes the following prices per ton, local or shrpDJrur.—Saclcß £lO 10s. 1001 b bags £ll, 501 b ha«ys £ll ss. 251 b bags £ll 10s. Bran £3 ss, pollard £4. Seeds —Ryegrass (nominal) Is 9d to 2s 3d', cocksfoot (nominal) 5d to white clover (farmers' samples* oid to 7d, cowgrass Sd to 6Ad. „, , . ~ Dairy Produce.—Cheese, dairy, large **, loaf 6d ; faotorv, large, s|d to 6dP. Buitteir, fresh local factory prints Is second pradc factory 10Ad, farm dairy m. Mama 7id, sides 6Jd, rolls 7J,d, shoulder rod's and middles (equal numbers) 7|d, shoulder JOBS only 6?d. middles Bid. Lard, pats Wjd, bulk 6d', bladders 6d. Fresh eggs IGdJ per dozen. RANGIORA. There has not been much business ia new grain j'etj and ifc will bo delayed by the recent rains, as the threshers have not foeem able- to get into regular work. For - the grain which has been, offered the. prices were as follows: —Wheat 3s 7d to 3s Sd per bushel, Algerian oats Is 6d to Is 7d, Cartons Is 7d, duns Is 6d to Is 7d, grass s-sedl Is 6d to 2s. ASHBTJRTON. There is no business to .report in thewheat market. No new samples have been shown nor has any threshing been done that can be heard of. A large quantity of wheat is in stook, and. a further large, area, is still standing very ripe awaiting fine weather for the machines to commence. The past week has been a treacherous one. for all crops being harvested, and a. continuation of the p.resent warm, damp weather will very quickly cause a large quantity of grain to sprout. So far the damage will be very slight, aJid wdl be confined practicaly to discohrring of oata and straw. Several lines of Algerian oats have been submitted on. the market, and further sales have taken place at Is 6d on trucks, quality being exceptionally good for this class. In dun oats Is 7£d *.0.b., sacks in, equal to Is on trucks, is the top price that has been obtained, but the quality is very poor, light, and bleached. No threshing has taken plaee during the past week, and consequently no further business. THE WOOL SALES. LONDON, January 18. The wool sales opened brisk.. Crossbreds advanced 5 to 10 per cent. January 19. Eight thousand four hundred aJid twenty-eight bales were offered, including 1118 of excellent quality from New Zealand. There was a large attendance, including many American buyer®, and! there was spirited competition in all quarters. Merinos were firm at full November rates, and fine crossbreds advanced 5 per cent., while medium and coarse crossbreds were 10 per cent, higher. At the wool eales there was a 'arge selection of merinos, all sections of the trade operating. Prices were maintained at November rates, top-making aorta being 10 per cent, higher. January 20. The Opon clip sold as high as 12£d, and averaged lid. A good sale at full opening rates. Yorkshire and Continental spinners are the chief operators. January 21. At the London sales the Gear clip fetched top price, 14£d, the average being 12gdAt Bradford the tone is cheerful, and prices are unchanged. January 24. The quantity of wool catalogued to date is 8-1,872 bales, and the quantity sold 46.639 bales. Competition for all sorts is very firm. America gave crossbreds good support. The following prices were realised : Hiku, 16£d (average 15-M); Tokomaru, 15|<i (average 14£d); R "*S over T, 15d average 12£d) ; Akitio, 144 d (average 13gd). WELLINGTON, January 19. The High Commissioner cables :—"The wool sales have commenced. There was great competition, America and the Continent being strong buyers. Trade good, prospects favourable. Manufacturers are waiting for supplies. New Zealand wool catalogued amounts to 41,700 bales. Merino of all grades is very firm at the closing rates of last sale. Fine crossbreds of all grades show a rise of while medium and coarse crossbreds have advanced fully Id per lb." INVERC'ARGILL; January 19. At the second wool sale of the season,

lield to-day, prices generally ruled higher than have been secured in other centres this season for the same quality and condition of wool. AH round, the prices were exceedingly satisfactory, and the top price secured (13£d) was an advance of £d on the December best, and of at least 2d on the highest total secured in Invercargill for many years past. Then again, very many lots fetched prices in the neighbourhood of Is (under and over), and the greater bulk of the bales submitted realised decided advances, even reaching to an increase of 4d on inferior lots. * For to-day's sale buyers made their arrangements in anticipation of a rise in the English markets of 10 to 15 per cent., and soon after the sale had started cabled advice arrived showing that expectations had been realised to the extent of an increase of at least 10 per cent. Competition was, therefore, stimulated, and the sale went with a swing. Following are the prices : —Merino —Superior to good, none offering; good to moderate, B|d to Bd. Halfbred—Good to moderate, lOd to moderate to inferior, 8d to 7£d. Fine crossbred —Superior to good, U±d to lOd; good to moderate, 9£d to 8d; moderate to inferior, 7-£d to 6£d. Strong fine crossored —Superior to good, lOd to 9d; good to moderate, B£d to 7d; moderate to inferior, to 4^d. THE LONDON WOOL SALES. The Bank of New Zealand has received the following cable advices '.— The sales have opened witn strong competition and large attendance of buyers There is active demand by Home and foreign buyers. Quotations for tops, Bradford : —The market is strong and the demand active for coarse crossbreds: Prices are 7j, per cent, to 10 per oent. higher. The market is strong and the demand active and prices unchanged for all kinds of msrino; the same also applies to all kinds of sliped. Current prices for North Island farmers' lots, Palmerston North style:— Coarse crossbrecls, 36-40's quality, average- condition, to lid per lb; medium crossbreds, 44-46's quality, average condition, 12-id to 13d per lb; fine cross breds, 50's quality, average condition, 13£d to 14id per lb." The National Mortgage and Agency Co. of New Zealand is in receipt of the following cablegram from its London office, dated January 18: —"The first sales of the year commenced this morning. Merinos generally opened firm on a par with last sales' closing rates. Large attendance of buyers. Mediu n crossbred wools opened at ain advance of ?i per cent, on last sales' closingrates. Coarse crossbreds opened at an advance of 10 per oent. on last sales' closing rates. American buyers operating freely. Sliped crossbrecls opened at an advance of 7g per cent, on last sales' closing rates." The Obago Farmers' Co-operative Association of New Zealand is in receipt of the following cablegram from its London office: — *' Wool pales opened to-day, and prices, compared with closing rates of last scries, are : Merino, par; medium crossbred, 74 per cent, higher; ooai-se crossbred, 10 to 12A per cent, higher; fine crossbred, quotations cannoL be given with any reliability as there is not sufficient catalogued l ." The Hon. the Minister for Industries and Commerce has received a report from the High Commissioner concerning the opening of the last London wool sales on November 24 last. The report states : that for sonic days prior to the opening opinions were freely expressed that ...there, would be a quiet trade at prices showing a reduction of from 5 per cent, to, 10 per cent, on the values ruling at the September auction*. It was evident, however, immediately bidding commenced that competition was to be keen and quite on a level with former rates. There was a very large- gathering of buyers and of others interested. The American- and Continental sections wene present in strong force, and competed keenly with the Home manufacturers. The Americans were especially rnxious to secure any linos of finest merino that were offered. The total number of bales catalogued for the series was 98,500, of which 15,500 were from New Zealand (Later cable advice reported that the sales closed very firm, except for heavy merinos). The report adds (hat indications pointed to the probability of the market fully maintaining its strength. English manufacturers were reported to have sufficient orders booked to keep them busy for some time, and stocks of wool held by them were known to be light. As American and Continental buyers were understood to be in a. similar position, there should be a firm market and good prices for some time to come. The prospects for the new New Zealand clip o;i arrival were, therefore, satisfactory. Messrs Dalge>y and Co. (Limited) report baving received the following cable from their head office dated London, 18th January. 1910: —'The attendance of buvers is large, and competition very animated. The selection is fair. Medium crossbreds are 7£ per cent, higher, coarse orosabredis 10 per cent, hieher. merino and fine crossbreds unchanged. This concerns greasy crossbred wools, medium and coarse quality." The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) is in receipt of the following cable- advice trim its London office regarding the opening of the first series of wool sales, on the 18th inst. :—"Thorn, was a. full attendance at the opening of the. wool sales to-day, competition by HoTc. Continental, and American buyers beinc active. The opening cata'oarios were fi'lrlv r-TUTSontative. As compared with last males' closing rfates, prices are higher by about 10 per rent for and coarse greasy crossbred. a-:d higher by about 5 po-r cent, to per cent, for crossbred slip-. For merino wool and fine crossbred the market is very firm."