FARM PRODUCTS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 31, 13 March 1914, Page 11

FARM PRODUCTS.

IN THE MARKETS. The tone of the grain market .at present is quiet. There has been no change since last report in the main grain lines. WHEAT. The market for wheat is quiet, some merchants predicting an early fall, but it would seem that this will not eventuate for some little time, if at all. Best milling lines command 3/7 per bushel, with others from 3/5 to 3/7, according to locality and quality. OATS. While there has not been any appreciable change in the price of oats, the enquiry-is decidedly better. There is very little coming on the market. Prices are:—A grade Gartons 1/6} to 1/7; B grade, 1/54 to 1/6; good seed Algerians [to 1/7; poorer qualities, 1/4 to 1/6. . ! BAELEY. Prices for barley are purely nominal \ as the growers are naturally inclined to hang on to their stuff at the prices ruling. Malting lines are quoted at from 3/3 to 3/6. CHAFF. Useful lines of chaff are changing hands at 45/- per ton at country stations. The enquiry from consumers is I very small. ; GRASS SEED. | The rye-grass crop has been very Ismail, and prices continue firm. Best class cocksfoot has advanced slightly, heing now worth 44d, with inferior s*ufl r downwards according to grade. ' POTATOES. The volume of business transacted in potatoes has shown no increase since last'report, and prices remain unchanged. March-April shipments are quoted at 55/- per ton. ONIONS. The market is pretty well stocked with onions at the present time. Prices range from £3 5/- to £4. OTHER LINES: Bran still .remains at the same price as last report, namely,£4 5/-, and pollard also is unchanged at £6. Oatmeal is quoted at £l4 per ton; The prices for flour are as follow: — Sacks £9 10/-, 1001b bags £lO, 501b £lO 5/-, 251b £lO 10/-. DAIRY PRODUCE. Factory butter is bringing 12id, and farmers' separator from 9<l to 9£d. Dairy -lines are quoted at from 8d to B*d. Eggs are bringing 13d. per dozen. The rate ruling for factory eheese is 64d, loaf 6d. Extracted honey is worth 3d per lb. IN AUCKLAND. (Sun Special.) AUCKLAND, March 12. So far there has ~ not been any improvement in the market for potatoes. Inferior grades are hard, to clear even at the low figures ruling. Supplies continue -heavy and it is now quite certain there will be ample local grown potatoes for the next six or seven weeks. This means that supplies will not be required from the south until later than usual this season. Seven hundred sacks of maize came to hand since last report, all of which was cleared at the figure recently ruling on this market. Business in maize is, however, of a hand to mouth description. The growing crop is reported to be doing well this season.' An easier tone pervades the market for onions this week. Supplies are being sent up freely from the south. The price has now dropped 7/6 per cwt. There is practically no change in the position of the market for oats this week, prices remaining unchanged. It is reported that the Southland oat crop is shaping better than was expected. Seed' lines are still meeting with fair enquiry at 3/6 per bushel for machine dressed Algerians. The market for milling wheat continues steady. In sympathy with outside quotations holders are not anxious to book forward at present quotations, which may be taken as an indication that the market is more I likely to move upwards than to decline. This would undoubtedly take place in the event of lower freights causing export to set in. Fowl wheat is selling well at 4/8 ex wharf, and 4/9 ex store. Merchants report a very dull market for chaff this week, with comparatively little business doing. Prices show no change. Very big business is being done in grass and clover seeds and all merchants handling these lines are working at high pressure just now. There is no doubt that this is to some extent due to

fire having spread over a larger area thai! was intended, and sellers having to get more seed on that account. Dry weather is, of course, responsible for the wider area of bush burned this

season. Cocksfoot seed is very firm at 12/6 per bushel,, and rye grass is likely to advance owing to the scarcity of heavy weight seed.