The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1880. THE GRAIN MARKET.

Temuka Leader, Issue 269, 29 June 1880, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1880. THE GRAIN MARKET.

The present depressed state of the agricultural interest calls for speedy remedy Grain of all sorts is superabundant, and we cannot find a market at home or abroad that would encourage grain growing. Nevertheless, ploughing and sowing goes cn-, some thinking that better prices will rule next season Wheat will likely be dearer,though the calculation of the English and Foreign grain merchants have been wrong in the past Some twenty years ago a short crop at Home foreshadowed a high price,and merchants could count upon realising a profit on their transactions, if prudently entered into. Now the case is different: wo have the anomaly of an almost unprecedentedly low crop and low price in the Home market—this, too, with increased population. “ How courts this about?” the uninitiated would ask. The answer we give in a few words :—America is the cause. Tw nty years ago the American grain districts were the gold-bearing dit tricts, and men turned their attention more to gold digging than to grain growing. Soon the goldfields became less attractive, and wealthy diggers turned their attention to the fertile plains of California, so suitable for wheat growing, and, Yankee-like, they launched into crop growing upon a 1 'rge scale. This has been going on increasing for yeors till now ; they c a n export more than double the amount short by

the failure of he Homo ciop, and at a price which no other comrtry can compete with. Tins, then, is the cause of low prices at Home in the face of a bad harvest Australia has also contributed its quota, but all its exports put togeth r would not compare with those ot the United States. Australia ami New Zealand now look to England for a market for their grain,but this season proves that the}’ are leaning upon a broken reed Certain causes are at work which wil likeivestahlish a better price forwheat next season, but for the other cereals the prospects arc very poor. What is to be done ? Other industries must be turned to. Sonic time ago we referred to the ■xperiment in meat preserving by the Stratldeven, steamship, and said that this would become a gre. t boon to New Zeeland. It will be sometime, however, before this industry will be extended to New Zealand, and in the meantime the agriculturalists ire being ruined one after another. Our attention has been called to another industry, viz , cheese-making. In England and America large manufactories of cheese are met with. The farmers colie.t the milk and forward it in tins to the manufactory, getting a good price for it, and the purchaser converts it into cheese, which is exported to the large towns, where it meets with a ready market. Now, South Canterbury is admirably adapted for dairy farnvng ; the climate is salubrious ; the land is first clrss,and there is abundance of wat tto eep stock in good health. What is to hinder farmers around Timaru and Temuka, as well as elsewhere, to establish joint-st ck companies for making cheese ? This would give a market tor all the milk that could be collected, and pay better than grain growing. The capital need net be large to begin with. Some excellent sites could be purchased at h'ttle cost, and good dairy farmers are in the district. Good che se will always command a good price in any Continental or English market. A stimulant would be given to rearing of stock, and the fine lands in this district would be utilised for a profitable industry ? Sheep is all the cry just now. Before another year sheep will likely not be wortli the monej they are now. In any cas**, sheep farming is but partially entered into by bur small farmers, and if all went into sheep farming it would (as it soon will be) be overdone, V T e commend this subject to the careful consideration of our agric Itural fanners ; we think they should lose no time in making a move. It E a pity to see such a fine agricultural district as this going to ruin for want of a fitt-Ie energy, ani a little more unity of purpose. We shall be glad to receive any oommunicatir ns upon the subject as to the best way to utilise our grass lan Is