CITY TRADING

Southland Times, Issue 23774, 23 March 1939, Page 3

CITY TRADING

HARVESTING OF GRAIN CROPS OPERATIONS ASSISTED BY WEATHER By OUR COMMERCIAL EDITOR Wednesday evening. The harvesting of grain crops in Southland has been proceeding steadily during the past week. Until the last day or two the weather has been rather calm for the conditioning of crops, but the bright weather accompanied by a slight breeze during the last few days should assist farmers to stack their grain in good condition. Many farmers are considering threshing their crops out of stook and good weather is necessary for this to be safe. Oats.—At the present time very little business is being done in oats as shipping buyers and millers are apparently waiting for the harvesting of +he new crop before entering the market. A few lines have been offering and the greater proportion of these show a considerable percentage of green oats. For lines such as these values range from 2/- to 2/3 a bushel, 0.t.c.5., but A grade are worth up to 2/6 a bushel, o.t.cs.

Wheat.—Values to growers for the current month, f.o.b. Bluff, are as follows:—Tuscan varieties, 5/6 a bushel, Hunter varieties, 5/8 a bushel, Velvet varieties, 5/10 a bushel. There is also a guaranteed bonus at the end of the season of a minimum of 3d a bushel. A few lines of the new crop have already been offered by growers. The earlier lines offering appear to be definitely out of condition for milling purposes, but some of the lines offered more recently have passed this grade. Wheat offering has been from the Winton district and further inland. Those growers whose wheat does not appear to be in good enough condition for threshing from the stook are recommended to stack it and leave it stacked for at least three months, so that it will become properly conditioned. Up to the present supplies of wheat for local poultry requirement* have been drawn from Canterbury, but some fowl wheat lines should be available now and this should have an easing effect on the high prices that have been ruling lately. Chaff.—There is very little demand for chaff and offerings from growers are sufficient for requirements. Value to growers for good, bright quality is about £4 a ton, o.t.c.s. Ryegrass.—The position has not changed to any extent from last week. Merchants are still awaiting germination tests for growers’ lines. They are confining themselves to buying seed on a dressed basis and with a Government germination certificate only. The maximum value for machine-dressed seed going 90 per cent, is 7/6, for 80 per cent. 6/6, 70 per cent. 5/9, 60 per cent. 5/-, 50 per cent. 4/- and 40 per cent. 3/-. Italian ryegrass.—Values for machinedressed seed, which is the only basis on which merchants are operating, are as follows:—80 per cent, germination, 5/-; 70 per cent., 4/6; 60 per cent., 4/-; 50 per cent., 3/-. Chewings fescue. —Threshing is still going on steadily. Yields from the heavier land are not turning out as well as was estimated earlier. There has been a keen demand for lines offering, but overseas sales have slowed down to some extent as a result of the higher range of values. Machine-dress-ed seed of export quality returns the growers from 1/9| to 1/10 per lb. For lines offering from the mill the price varies considerably because of the differences in samples in bushel weight and estimated loss in dressing. Values for lines from the mill range from 9d to 1/3J per lb. Browntop.—The new season’s crop is not yet ripe and it will probably be at least a fortnight before any samples are available. Values at the present time are about 1/2 per lb for machinedressed certified seed and 1/1 for uncertified. Potatoes.—Business is still confined to the supply of the local market, most of the business being transacted through the sale rooms. The merchants at present are showing no interest, as the main crop varieties are not yet offering. STONE FRUIT SEASON Consignments coming to hand at the fruit marts this week are a fair indication that the stone fruit season is practically at an end. Apricots are finished, with the exception of small lots ex the cool store. Peaches have been moderately plentiful, but consignments this week have dwindled considerably and there is a tendency for prices to harden all round.

Apples are comparatively scarce for this time of the year and really choice lines are quickly taken up. The bulk of the arrivals, however, are small sized and low grade. Dessert pears are scarce and in demand.

The market is bare of oranges and there will be a heavy demand for the next main shipment of Jamaican-grown fruit, which is due in Invercargill at the beginning of next month. There is a better demand for bananas and supplies will probably be very short of Easter requirements. The next main shipment is not due until April 13.

The tomato market continues firm, with only comparatively small lots coming forward. There is little likelihood of prices weakening as growers report that the bulk of the crops have already been marketed. Vegetables are still in short supply and prices remain unchanged. The wholesale prices are as follows:— Apples.—Cox’s Orange, 7/- to 10/- a case; Worcesters to 6/6 a case; Jonathans, 5/- to 8/-. Tomatoes.—Hothouse, to 9d per lb; Christchurch outdoor, to 7d per lb.

Peaches.—2/6 to 4/6 a box. Cabbages.—s/6 a dozen. Lettuce. —To 5/- a dozen. Marrows. —2d lb. Pumpkins.—To 2ld per lb. Cauliflowers—lo/- a sack.

RANGE OF PRICES Wholesale

Bran.—£6 a ton. Butter.—First grade, 1/4|. Oatmeal.—2s’s £2O a ton; 200’s £l9 a

ton. Pollard. —100’s £7 10/- a ton; 150’s

£7 5/- a ton. Flour.—2oo’s £l3 15/6 a ton; 100’s £l4 12/6 a ton; 50’s £l4 17/6 a ton; 25’s £l5 17/6 a ton. Retail Bran. —7/6 per 1001 b. Butter.—l/62. Oatmeal.—s’s 1/6; 25’s 6/9. Flour. —25’s 4/6; 50's 8/6; 100’s 16/-. Pollard.—9/- per 1001 b. Onions. —31b for 1/-. New potatoes (local).—2d per lb. EGG PRICES Egg prices are quoted at from 1/9 to 2/- a dozen retail, with wholesale

prices from 1/6 to 1/9. Country prices, Id a dozen less. SEPARATOR BUTTER A wide varietv of prices is quoted by wholesalers and retailers for separator butter. Wholesale prices, according to quality, range as follows: Inferior to medium quality 9d to lOd; good quality 1/-; best quality to 1/2. Retail prices range from 1/2 +o 1/4.