CANTERBURY PRODUCE MARKET

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 140, 8 March 1919, Page 10

CANTERBURY PRODUCE MARKET

By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, March 7. Thene will )je apparently very little second wheat this season, due to tlio prime quality of the crop. There are complaints, however, that tho screens on the thrashing mills are bsing set too close and not enough seconds are being taken out. There ia likely to* be a shortage of Pearl and Hunters wheat for mixing purposes this year, as farmers were encouraged .to grow Tuscan as being likely to givo a greater yield, and .as there was only one fixed price there was naturally no inducements to grow the harder and lower yielding wheats. The oats market h<is weakened still further, but there are now signs that it lias reached its lowest point for the time being. The crop is yielding heavily, and the quality is high, but there does not appear likely to bo sufficient demand within the Dominion to absorb the whole of the crop. The North Island is likely to be more independent of southern supplies of fodder than it was last winter, and it would appear that there has been no warrant for the high prices that wero paid early in the season for forward delivery. A grade Gartons are now quoted at 3s. 4d. per bushel on trucks, and B grade at 3s. 3d. Algerians are quite neglected and are not quotable at more than 3s. to 3s. 3d., and Duns at 3s. 3d. to 3s. Gd. at country slations. There is no sale for oat-sheaf chaff at present, and buyers are not inclined to offer more than Is. per ton at country stations. There is no change in white clover, which is worth lOd. to Is. 3d. per lb., and a halfpenny more for very clean. There is very little doing in ryegrass, and the cocksfoot market has eased, 121b. to 12ilb. seed being worth 7Jd. to Bd. per lb., lljlb. to 131b. seed 81(1., and 141b. to 161b. seed 9d. to lOd. There lire a few orders now coming to hand from Wellington for potatoes, and merchants are offering £5 10s. per ton at country stations for prompt delivery, and .£5 for April-May delivery. Tho weather has continued fine during tho week, enabling harvesting and thrashing work to be carried oil without interruption and tho grain to be secured in excellent order.