The Oat Crop.

Manawatu Herald, 23 February 1892, Page 2

The Oat Crop.

There is very little to guide us says the Daily Prm as to the future of the oat in^rket. The duty of .lOd per lOOlbs imposed in N.ew Sonth * Wales appears to have practically closed that market for the time being. t All the same, stocks are very low in" that colony, and if the horse feeders there want oats, they will have to pay the duty themselves, as our farmers will not be content to do so. In Victoria, although prices are low and the demand exceedingly dull and sluggish, stocks are also very slender ; and what is more, it is estimated that the new crop just harvested shows a falling off of from 600,000 to 700,000 bushels as compared with last year. Anji were it not for the commercial panic which not exists in that colony there is very little doubt that speculation would have come to the rescue of the market, and prices would have ranged much higher than they do now. It appears, however, almost certain that Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia will have to import from New Zealand before the year is over. Moreover, as the area sown with oats in this province during the past season has been less than usual, the probabilities are that we shall see an improvement in the price of this cereal before the year ends. _