CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 13

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

CHRISTCITURCII GRAIN REPORT. CHRISTCHURCH, January 25. The announcement made by the Hon. Mr MacDonakl that there are 271,749 acres sown in wheat shows that the area is 22.196 acres below the official estimate of that sown or intended to bo" sown in wheat. It was generally considered that the estimate was "too high in view of the fact that weather and other conditions had prevented farmers from sowing all the spring wheat they intended. Mr MacDonald states that if the yield comes up to the average of the last ten years there will probably bo sufficient wheat for local requirements, except, it may be, a small quantity of Australian wheat for mixing purposes. The average yield of wheat for tho past

ten years was 28.32 bushels per acre, and an average of 28 bushels per'acre this season will give a total yield of 7,608,972 bushels. Seeing, however, that the wheat crop has been subjected to the vicissitudes of a very mixed season, it is considered very doubtful whether tho yield will be up to tho average, and latest harvest reports throughout Canterbury" are not very encouraging. It is apparent, however, that if the wheat can be harvested without further damage there will be a, full year's supply available, but it will be quite a month later in being fit for nulling as compared with last year's crop. The amount of wheat required for a year depends to a considerable extent upon tho quality. It is usually set down as. 6,000,000 bushels, but taking the twelve months ended November 30, 1917, for which the Government pfficial figures are available, tho consumption of locally-grown and Australian wheat was .just upon 7,000,000 bushels, and, in addition, there: was Australian flour imported equivalent to 471,258 bushels of wheat, # which is considerably above the average importation of flour. No samples of this season's wheat are reported to have been submitted to buyers as yet. OatJ are coming forward slowly, and a few lines of Gartons have changed hands up to 3s 3d, at country stations, there being a good demand for them on account of the shortage of stocks of white oats. Algerians arc selling up to 3s. lh<? purchase of the new barley crop has commenced, and several sales of prime malting have taken place up to 5s 9d, at country stations. Barley is of good quality, and so far it is mostly of good colour. There is practically no old oatshoaf ohaff now* offering, and new is worth £4, at country stations, for immediate delivery. There have been offers of £3 10s for forward delivery, but growers are not prepared to accept that figure. No sales of the new crop of potatoes are yet reported. Some business is being done in tho early crop of onions at £6 per ton.

TIMARU MARKETS. The Timaru correspondent of the Christchurch Press reports: —The absence of rain this week has enabled farmers to cut a lot of crops, the binder having been busy all over the district from early morning till dusk. If the weather continues fine some of the wheat will be thrashed next week, and is expected to be on the market by Wednesday next. New wheat has already been thrashed in the Ashburton district. A shipment of Australian wheat arrived at Timaru recently and is being distributed among South Canterbury and North Otago millers. Oats are offering in large quantities from North Canterbury, and sales are being made at from 2s 9d to 3s on trucks. Some lines of locally grown Algerians have also been offered. One line of feed was sold at 2s 9d, and for a line of seed the grower refused 3s Id. Tho value to-day is 2s 9d for feed and 3s for seed. A line of locally grown Gartons changed hands at 3s lid on trucks, and some Duns from the Waitohi district were sold at 3s 3d. There is a good demand for old chaff at £5 on but none is offering. New chaff for delivery in April is worth £4 on trucks. A lot of ryegrass is on offer, and since the warmer taeather set in the quality has greatly improved. Sales are being made at 3s to 3s 6d per bushel for Italian, while perennial is fetching up to 3s 3d, the quality of the latter being inferior. For equal quality more would be given for perennial than for Italian. Small lines of cocksfoot have been sold during the week at lOd pet lb.