OTAGO PRODUCE MARKETS

Southland Times, Issue 23793, 15 April 1939, Page 4

OTAGO PRODUCE MARKETS

Potato Prices Tend To Rise SEED SEASON HAS NOT BEEN SATISFACTORY (United Press Association) DUNEDIN, April 14. The milling wheat market shows little change as business in both milling and fowl wheat is now largely controlled by the Government. Millers are prepared to take all lines suitable for their trade and, where there is a demand for fowl wheat, the Wheat Committee is releasing small quantities of milling quality for this purpose The dry .weather has enabled farmers to complete their harvesting and there should be little, if any, wheat left in the paddocks this season. Fowl wheat is worth 6/6 to 6/9 a bushel, sacks extra, ex store. _ ■ The oat market continues in a lifeless condition and it is difficult to interest shippers. Millers are still operating, but they are purchasing lines suitable to their trade. A Gartons are worth nominally 2/4 a bushel, on trucks country sidings, sacks extra, with B’s at 2/1. Higher money is being paid for good quality Duns. The shipping price for A Gartons is 3/2 f.0.b., s.i., and for B’s 2/11. Business in the chaff market con ~ tinues quiet, with prices unchanged. The demand is mostly confined to small lots ex stores, with best quality quoted at £6 to £6 5/- a ton. POTATO MARKET The potato market is firm, with prices showing a tendency to rise above their present high level. Most of the local merchants are drawing their supplies from Stirling and other southern growing districts. Reports from Willowbridge state that there will be good crops in that district, but, taking them all round, the crops will not be so large in the- Dominion this year as last season. Arran Chiefs are quoted at £8 10/- a ton, ex store,' sacks, in, with prices ranging from £9 to £9 5/- a ton for King Edwards. Now that the seed season is fairly well advanced, it can be stated that it has not been a very satisfactory one. Poor* germination in ryegrass seed, which is the main seed crop in Otago and Southland, has been very noticeable this season. Even seed from the Maniototo district, which in previous years has given the best results for this type of seed, has shown a similar Jack of germination to that obtaining throughout Otago. It is difficult to account for the weakness in ryegrass seed, but it is generally considered that the continuance of wet weather during the flowering stage in the months of December and January was the principal contributing factor. Drying winds later on xhay also have had an effect. • A? merchants have to sell their seeds on purity and germination they are showing a disinclination to operate with ryegrass until the lines have been tested by the Government officers. For the few lines that have shown character and a high test of germination there has been a ready demand at prices aboye those ruling in an ordinary year. CHEWING’S FESCUE PRICES • The crop of Chewing’s fescue is now almost all in merchants’ hands and prices that have been realized must show a handsome return to growers. The crop of crested dogstail is not up to the usual Standard, either as regards quantity or quality. Here again, prices for bright, heavy seed rule high. The cocksfoot market is, firm. The quality this year is good, with the seed bright and of high germination. Small lines of cowgrass grown in Marlborough are now on the market and the quality is particularly attractive. Prices are higher than has been the case for several years past. Crops in Marlborough are reported to be much below normal following the very dry weather experienced there since the New Year.

The browntop market is a shade easier because of a lack of demand fropi overseas’ buyers, but prices are still at a payable level to growers. A further shipment of bananas arrived during the week, railed ex the Maui Pomare from Lyttelton. This will be the last shipment until the return trip of the Maui Pomare in about a month’s time. Jamaican oranges are in good supply. Californian lemons are meeting with satisfactory sales, but New Zealandgrown are not over-plentiful. The tomato market firmed during the week. Supplies slackened off considerably and the quantity which had accumulated in the stores during the holidays was quickly placed under the hammer.

Grapes have a better inquiry and sounder values obtained at the weekend. Peaches are still in heavy supply and sales are difficult to effect. Small lots of plums and nectarines are reaching the market and bringing good values.

Quinces, mostly from Central Otago, are plentiful but the demand is not very keen. Big quantities of Winter Cole and Winter Nelis pears are coming forward, but as they are on the hard side the demand is poor. Apples continue to bring good values. Supplies are on the short side, coinpared with previous seasons.

CANTERBURY MARKET BUSINESS IN SMALL SEEDS QUIET BUT STEADY (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, April 14. Business in the small seeds markets in Canterbury has been steady but quiet since Easter, with few alterations in prices. The demand from the North Island has eased off. A few samples of red clover have come to hand and the quality generally has been very good. The price to growers is 'ld to 8d per lb. Brown top is now being harvested and, as the indications are for a fairly good yield, the market opened firm but has quietened in the last day or two when it became apparent that the crop is larger than was at first thought. The prices to growers for machinedressed seed are 1/3 for certified and 1/1 to 1/2 for uncertified. Trading in other markets has been steady, with prices unchanged. MINING NEMONA DREDGE (United Press Association) GREYMOUTH, April 14. The Nemona Dredge return was 320 z for 149 J- hours and 11,300 yards. BLACKBALL CREEK GREYMOUTH, April 14. The Blackball Creek return was 630 z for 110 hours.