THE SUPPLY OF OATS AND THE NEW ZEALAND FARMER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 21

THE SUPPLY OF OATS AND THE NEW ZEALAND FARMER.

The Mark Lane Express of the 13th January has tho following :— The supply of oats has been inadequate. The British farmer, since a new and large crop was secured, has come forward with free offers, but these offerings only cover the last three months of the year. 'Russia has not quite k'.pt up to the mark by a shipper of oata though tiie falling off has not been large. The deficiency in the supply of foreign oata has revealed itself in the inability of Canada and the United States to send us anything like their wonted quantities and! in the "drying-up" of Australia and New Zealand as sources of supply. The magnificent oate produced by thei=e regions fetchr fully 3s per bushel in London, and command an immediate sale ; but the labour bill in regions where whites will neither take their own coats off nor allow pellotf workmen to come in js now simply prohibitive, and the fnrmpr of < !-••■« Antinomies c-" Inot produce oats a' a J,.^....J „^.... v»<_.» .. -»n t,,u price is su^ v i> = would make the hn^ « farmov f*<- • .ii^ a^ieaq-e of r' c eoroai.J Ar" .a s.iows signs of apprccinrin^ <|- ft ' *■' and lorgely increased fowings oB oats aye to be looked for in that region. But tho climate does not, lend itself <t» the production of heavy-wpi^ht oaW. Nothing from Argentina which wo ha'^e sr * has exceeded 3121b, and abouc 3041b is I'a average. Thus the ordinary oi'nd Engl-'v oats, which weigh 3361b, are practically" 1- [ft in possession of tho field. We foic-ce no

very immediate changes, and therefore r or the approaching spring-sowing season can recommend oats where\er theie ie a fair chance of reasonable weight in sample being attained.