THE POTATO MARKET.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1832, 19 August 1913, Page 8

THE POTATO MARKET.

COMMONWEALTH PROSPECTS. Notwithstanding the heavy .export trade which is now being carried' on in Victorian potatoes, tho local market is oversupplied, and as a consequence prices are all in favour of the consumer (says tho Melbourne "Ago" of August 5). " The ruling ratß for last .season's crop is from i.'2 ss. to /£2 '10s., 'ami, • according to a statement mado by an export*, of tho Agricultural Department, there is not likely to be. on improvement in'the price for old potatoes this year. Large quantities are said lo be held by growefs, while in tho Ballarat districts many fields are not Vet "dug out." Owing to tho exceptionally liigli price of seedlings last year, tho area planted was less than tho previous sea-t-on, but. the springliko weather experienced during,the past autumn w,as.so favourable to growth that n nuluh heavier crop was gathered. In fact, it was a r«cord for many years. New potatoes will begin to come in in larger quantities ktowards tho end of this month, and prices ■will;naturally harden... Eh"riy crops of Pink Eye and Carman from the Warrliambaol district are. not.'expected to bo on the market,' /however; until early in November. Last -week 24,000 bags wero fihippsd to West 'AuHi I ,aliiiVand..Q\ieons-'' land, but as the former State will have on'early crop this season, it is that the export trado trill now begin to. diminish. '