CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 13

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

CIIRISTCHUROH, February 1. Tho heavy rain that fell on Thursday morning was experienced more on the coast than towards the hills, but where any quantity fell it has stopped thrashing out of stook for a few days. Several lines of wheat have now changed hands, and samples that have been shown are good, but slightly off-colour. A lino of Zandilla King, an Australian variety, is fairly plump, hard, and dry, and is fit for immediate milling with a proportion of imported wheat. This crop averaged 18 bushels per acre, though tho grower expected it to go 30 bushels. Another line of Pearl and Hunters averaged 30 bushels per acre. There aro plenty of Algerian oats still offering, and selling up to 3s, at country stations, but Gartons are still scarce, and in gpod demand. Oatshcaf chaff is selling at £4, for prime, bright a good demand this year from Auckland for oatsheaf chaff, as, owing to the wet winter and spring, few oats were grown in that province. It is anticipated, however, that shipping will bo more difficult than last year. Local storage for such produce as chaff is also likely to bo short, owing to spaco being occupied by wool, and probably there will be more room required for grain. Therp are few growers offering to sell Eotatoes, but not much business has yet ecn done for early delivery. A price of £4 5s is offered. The onion market is easier in view of a larger quantity now ready for delivery next week; £5 is offered, and £4- 10s for later delivery. Ryegrass is still, offering freely, and bringing various prices, according to quality. Small lots of cooksfoot, grown on tho plains, is ooming forward, and selling at lOd to Is per lb, the latter being given for heavy soed. TIMARU. S. The weather having been against stook thrashing (reports the Timaru correspondent of the Ohristchurch Press), locally grown wheat has only made its appearance on the market in the shape of one line from the. Levels % district, and this was secured by Timaru and Oamaru millers. The harvesting of wheat crops is now general, and it is apparent by actual handling of the crops that in many cases the yields will be muoh below normal. Millers locally have received one or two lines from tho Ohristchurch districts, where thrashing operations are proceeding. There are no fresh sales to report of oats, but the tendency of the market is slightly weaker in other centres. It has yet to be seen- how this will affect offerings here when they become general. Algerians may bo quoted at from 2s 9d for feed to 3s and 3s Id for seed, on trucks at country stations, sacks extra, whilst white oats would command from 3s 3d to 3s 4d according to qualify on tho same basis. Barley is inquired for, and quoted nominally in the absence of offerings at 5s 6d per bushel for quality suitable for malting. ' Ryegrass is slightly firmer, and for best quality Perennial heavy-weight seed 3s 6d to'4s may be quoted as the value, lower grades ranging from 3s to 3s 3d according to samples. Italian is valued at from 3s 6d to 3s 9d, according to marking and freedom from weeds. Potatoes—Blight is threatening in many crops, and a continuance of recent weather is favourable to its spreading. None has been offered, and there is no inquiry for shipment.