FARMING & COMMERCIAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 192, 10 May 1921, Page 8

FARMING & COMMERCIAL

NEWS AND NOTES

AUCTION SALES

FORTHCOMING) FIXTURES.

TODAY.

157 Lambton Quay, Wellington, 10..50 a.m.Salo of Oregon pine (E. Johnston and Co.). Levin Yards, 12 noon.—Stock sale. Lower Cuba. Street, Wellington, 1.30 p.m.— Furniture sale (Price and Co.). 195 Lambton Quay, Wellington, 2.30 p.m.— Property sale (Harcourt and Co.).

TO-MORROW. 74 Courtenay Place, Wellington, 10.30 a.m. —Sale of motor-cats and accessories (Johnston and Co.). Waikanae Yards, 12 noon.—Stock sale. 195 Lambton Quay, Wellington, 1.15 p.m.— Sale of quilts, curtains, etc (Harcourt and Co.). 123 Cuba Street. Wellington. 1.30 p.m,— Salo of motor cycles and accessories (Hhorlan-i and Ferkins). Whakatane Hall, 2 p.m.—Land sale (Wakelin Bros.). THURSDAY.

Upper Hutt Yards, 1 p.m — Stock sale. 137 Lambton Quay, Wellington, 2.30 p.m.— Property sale (Hodgkins, Carver).

SYDNEY WOOL SALES

ANOTHER POSTPONEMENT. (Rec. May 9, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, May 9. . The wool Bales, whtch were to have been resumed to-day, were again postponed. The buyers objected to the present Customs regulations, but stated that if they were satisfactorily arranged by Thursday next the sales would be resumed.—Press Assn. THE FRUIT CROP CONDITIONS REVIEWED. The Director of tho Horticulture Division of the Department of Agriculture has received the following reports from Jiis officers regarding tho conditions of the fruit crop at the end of April:— Auckland North.—Apples, harvesting near completion. Lemons, moderate. Pears, all harvested. Ha—vesting generally is now nearing comp’etion. Late apples and pears will bo picked and stoved by the end of this week. Brown rot. has been prevalent during tho sonson. Black spot is not so severe. Lemons and sour oranges have been a moderate crop, and arc free from <?!*- ease'. Strawberry plants arc now being lifted.' there are indications of heavy plantings again this year. Auckland. —Apples and apricots, still a few late varieties to be harvested, practically all going into cool storage. Lemons, only medium blossoming. Ornpees, good cron of preserving; sweet varieties short. Tomatoes, all finished. Pears, nil done. Strawberries, commencement being made in lifting of runners. Only Doughertys), Yates, and Rymers apples are now left on the trees. Preparations for new strawberry planting are well in hand. Poorman oranges are jion- commencing to colour up.

Auckland South.—The weather conditions have been seasonable to d’y throughout the month. AU’stone fruits are now finished, light crops generally. Brown rot has not been so prevalent this season. The late varieties of apnles are now being picked and stored. Pip crone generally above the average. Waikato. —Only a few late varieties remain to be gathered. The weather has been all that could be desired; chilly nights and warm days. Dougherty apples have coloured well. The lemon crops nro.mise well, and picking has com. menced. Tree tomatoes are very light this season owing to the severity of last winter’s frosts. Hawke's Bay.—All fruit has now been harvested except. Dougherty apples, wlr’ch are well below tho usual size and raU /r a light crop. The dry weather still continues, so far there have been no seasonable rains.

Nelson.--Apples; The harvesting of bits sorts is well under way. The Delicious and lord Wolsleys are gathered. Slurmar. Washington, and Rokewood nre hrt"g picked, leaving only Dougherty apples on the trees. The sample this season is bright and firm. above the average. Pears, the harvesting of the pear cron is now almost ranipletod. Winter Nelis, P. Barry, Keiffer? TTv-bt-id. Conference, I’fnconniie, and Winter Bartlett were gathered during tho month. Tomatoes: The last of the cutside tomato crop was gathered. Most gardens finished the sra'on much earlier. Good rains have fallen during tho month.

Motueka. —Apples: (Balance of the cron is being gathered and stored; 10.629 cases wer? exported during the month. Gooseberries: Good crops of Cape gooseberries are being picked. Pears: Crops gathered; 852 cases- were exported during the month. Strawberries, finished. 'Tomatoes: Few still picking, frosty weather practically ending the crop. Walnuts, gathered. Marlborough.—-Apnles: Practically all harvested except Sturmers and Democrats. Foliage in most places, is falling prematurely owing to the extremely dry conditions prevailing. Pears: All harvested. Tomatoes: These are now over. Walnuts now being gathered. Lighter crop than Inst year and smaller in size. The weather, is now much cooler, with frequent frosts overnight. Some rainfall during the month, but the eoil is still very dry. Canterbui'y. —Anples: A good crop of late varieties. Fruit on the whole very free from black spot. I.ate infection of black spot is in evidence. Penclics: A. few consignments of late varieties coming forward in good condition, hut no demand. Pears: Picking of keeping varieties in full swing. On the whole, the fruit is very free from black spot. I,ate infection of spot in evidence. Tomatoes practically finished; recent frosts have disposed of outdoor-grown crops. Walnuts, a good crop. Price, about 9d. per lb. South Canterbury.—Annies, good; pears, good; walnuts, fair. The dry season is still continuing, with the addition of dry north-west winds. This has hastened the ripening of the fruit, such as Wolsley. Delicious. Jonathan, etc., and made the harvesting rush work. The strong winds brought down considerable quantities of fruit, and prices suffered In consequence. Early frosts during the month cut all outdoor tomatoes.

LONDON BUTTER PRICES

A FURTHER DFULTNE.

Messrs. A. H. Turnbull and Co. have received the following cablegram from Nfessrs-. Vv. AVeddcl and C 0., Ltd,, London. under date Mny 6: — "Further decline butter. Danish quoted 190 s. to 100 s.; New Zealand, 190 s. to 1985., extremely slow.” Messrs. Dnlgety and Company. Ltd., report having received tho following cnhlegrrxn from their London house, under date Stay 6:— "Butter- Market very wenk and irregular. Danish. 1955. Government has reduced price for their stock. New Zealand. 1925.: Australian, IP6s.; thirdgrade. 1765. Substantial further reduction in price will probably have to be made before stock finally cleared. There are still large quantities of Government butter remaining in buyers’ hands unsold. "Cheese: Temporary shortage continues. Present quotation for Now Zealand coloured, 1565. to 1625.; white, 138 s. to 1445." THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY NO CAUSE FOB PESSIMISM. There is one branch of industry (writes a country contemporary) that still is enjoying good times and fair prices—

INVESTMENT SHARES

CUSTOMS REVENUE.

dairying. There is just one thing that the dairy farmer can do to even better his position, and prospects, and that is, better his herds; and the return from butter and cheese warrant expenditure in thjs direction. It has been proved that well-bred pedigree stock from recognised milking strains give the best returns. The outlay in the first place may bo high—the price per head lieing considerably above that for which a com-mon-class cow can be bought—hut tho return in milk of high test more than compensates for this. Both in this district and Taranaki the Jersey is coming more and more into prominence, and farmers generally are improving their herds by introducing this strain. Hardly a dairy farmer of any standing is without a pedigree Jersey cow or bull, and the improvement they have found in their milk returns has induced them to go in more and more largely for this strain. The prospects for dairying are still bright, and in view of tho slump in meat and wool it is anticipated that quite a number of small sheen farmers will he turning their holdings into dairy farms this coniing season. : a— HONEY CROP PROSPECTS The Director of the Horticulture Division of the Department of Agriculture has received from the apiary instructors the following reports concerning the honey crop prospects:— Auckland—Prices remain unchanged for light coloured honev, but there is little demand for the darker classes. Large quantities are now arriving at the grading store, the largo bulk of it being light amber. Tho weather has been cold indicating an early winter.

Wellington.—The honey crop throughout the district has been gathered and the surplus in most instances is all that could be desired. Tho quality is up to the usual high standard, some of tho sample® seen being equal to the finest produced in the Dominion. The grading stores are gradually filling up with honey for export, and a notable feature this year is the new export tin with a screw top cap, a great improvement on the old push-in lid. Prices are remaining firm for good quality linos os reported last month. Section honey is scarce, not enough being produced for local consumption. Beeswax is quoted at 2s. 3d. per lb. Christchurch and Dunedin. —There is little fresh to report. Extracting has finished and beekeepers are busy packing their product for export. Prices are firmMarket quotations for bulk honey: Light amber to white, 7Jd. to Bd.; ton pound tins, 7s. 9d. to Bs.; sections, first grade, Is. 2d. to Is. 3d.; second grndo, 7d. to Bd. Pat honev very little offering. Beeswax, 2s. per lb.

WHOLESALE PRODUCE PRICES

Messrs, - I,aery and Co,. Ltd., Wellington, report wholesale prices as follow:— Feed barley. 4s. fid. nor bushel, sacks in; crushed barley, 4s. 10d., sacks in. Partridge peas, 7s. 6d. per busnel, sacks in. Peas, Prussian blue. 7s. 6d. per bushel, sacks in; feed. 6s. 6d. per bushel, sacks in. Oats, Algerians, seed prime 3s. 10d., good 3s, 9d. per bushel, sacks in; Duns, heavy choice. 4s. Id. per bushel, sacks in; Sparrowbills for poultry food 4s. 2d.: dressed oats for poultry feed 4s. 10<l. per bushel, sacks in; Gartons, A grade, 3s. 16d. bushel, sacks in; crushed oats, 4». 3d. bushel. Fnrro food, ton lots, J3lO 7s. fid. per ton. -Chaff, oatensheaf, Blenheim prime ton lots, £7 15s. per ton, sacks in; free on tnicKs, Wellington. Hay. extra choice lucerne, j£9 per ton; good clover, .£8 10s. per ton. Potatoes, Canterbury, good tablq,. white, ton lots, JlO ss. per ton, sacks in; Red Dakotas, J!fi 15s. per ton. sacks in. Fowls, hens, 6«. 75.; heavy roosters, 95., 7s. per pair. Ducks, 10s. to 14s. per pair. Geece, 13s. to 15s. per nair. Turkeys, Is. 7d. to Is. Sd. per lb. Butler, farmers* 'separator, daily or milled, Is. lid. to 2s. per lb. Eggs, fresh, Ss. Hd. to 45.; preserved. 2s. sd. to 2s. fid. per dozen. Shellgrit, choice quality. 1001 b. bags, Gs. fid. per bag. Onions. 7s. 6d. per cwt., sacks in. Meklers, Bs. per Z-w't. Maize, whole. 7e. 9d. per bushel, sacks in; crushed. Bs. 3d. per bushel, sacks in. Fowl wheat, ten-sack lots, whole Bs. 10d„ broken Bs. Cd. per bushel, sacks Is. Bd. Meat meal, for poultry feed. 225. per HiOlb. bag. Pig nnd calf meal, .£lO 1(M. per ton. Oatmeal, for poultry feed, IGs. per 1001 b. Linseed oilcake meal, Ails per ton. Mutton birds, Tasmanian, in casks. Rd.: New Zealand, in kits, cooked, Is. ; salted, llld. each.

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Customs revenue collected at the nort of Wellington yesterday totalled £6207 17s. 3d. MINING NEWS WELLINGTON SHARE MARKET. The quotations yesterday for mining shares were ub under:— Buyers, Seller*. £ s. d. £ s. d

STOCK EXCHANGE. By Telegraph-Press Association. Auckland, May 9. Sales.—Bank of New Zealand. 465. 9d.: Soldiers’ 51 per cent. Loan, £B9 10s.: War ■Loan <1930). £B6 155.; New Zealand Insurance, 255. 3d.; South British, 295. 6d. Reported sales- —Waihl, 325., 31s. 9d. Dunedin, May 9. Sales.—New Zealand Insurance. 255. 3d. (three).

Sales v.ere reported y csterday of War Ronds at £86 15s. and £86 12s. 6d.. and Bank of Now South Wales shares ; at £30. The quotations were as follow Buyers. Sellers. r. r. a. £ H <1. Inscribed Stock. 1933 89 2 6 89 to 0 War Bonds, 19.30 — 87 0 0 War Bonds. 1933 88 15 0 —— Bank Australasia (rights. 1 — 13 5 0 Bank Australaiift (fractions) — 2 0 0 National Bunk — 5 7 6 Bank New South Wales —- 30 10 0 Bank New Zealand 2 6 6 2 7 0 Union Bank 11 16 0 12 0 0 Abraham and Williams (ord.) — i 10 0 Goldsbrough Mort —- 1 iO i) Fnnitable Buildinu Go. . — 8 5 a Well. Invest.. T. and A. —. 0 10 6 Well. Gas (pref.) 0 14 6 n ■6 0 National Insurance (com.) 2 15 0 S.B. Insurance 1 11 0 Standard Insurance .. 2 3 0 N.Z. Refrigerating (£1)... 1 4 9 1 6 0 N.Z. Refrinerating (10s.) — 0 15 0 Well. Meat Export (£312s. 6d.) — 3 5 0 —. \ 0 18 0 Kaiapoi Woollen (ord.) ... — 1 4 6 Westport Coal (cum.) 15 0 — Wnina Coni 0 15 0 Gevland-O'Brien Timber 15 6 — N'.Z. Drug — 17 0 Vairnrapa Farmers (pref.) 0 14 6 Wilson’s Cement — n 15 10

Progress — 0 1 3 Talisman —— 0 5 10 Walhi — 1 12 6 Waihi Grand .Innction... — n 9 6