FARMING OUTLOOK.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 8941, 16 December 1907, Page 7

FARMING OUTLOOK.

PROSPECTS DOWN SOUTH

The farming outlook is excellent both in Otago and Southland, particularly the latter, writes a Southern correspondent to the Post. The crops of ryegrass are looking splendid. Last season a very large quautity of ryegrass was imported from Great Britain owing to the high price of locally grown seed. This found considerable acceptance Jn the North Island particularly, but it is not likely that any imported seed will come on the market this year, because the English crop has been a partial failure, aud prices at Home are high, besides which the New Zealand crop should more than meet the local demand. As to grain the crops are looking exceptionally well throughout Otago and Southland. KoundOamaru, where last year stock had to be turnjd iuto the stunted wheat fields, yields are being looked forward to. During last season large quantities of oats were imported from Tasmania and Victoria, most of the shipment going to the North Islaud. This season it is expected that the tables will be turned, and New Zealand will export oats to Australia, owing to the comparative failure of the crop there because of the dry season. It is not unlikely that new season oats will open pretty high in price. North Island merchants are carrying very low stocks in anticipation of the new oats. Once these wants are supplied prices should wear down somewhat. The new season's wheat also is expected to open up very high, but here again, once immediate demands are met, the opening level is not likely to be maintained, for the wheat yield is expected to be heavy, and it may be that there will be a surplus for export. In Otago and Southland a bigger area has been sown in oats and wheat than has been the case for many years, farmers having been tempted by the recent high prices of grain.