FARM NOTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2221, 30 June 1891, Page 3

FARM NOTES.

There is room to believe that the top price of wheat in this country will reach 60s a quarter before harvest. Already the best English white, which is scarce, is worth 455, and (he finest New Zealand long berry is quoted at 445, or 6s higher than tbe top quotation of a year ago, Tbe average for Bnglishjlast week was 87s 9d, or 8s higher than in tbe corresponding week of last year, and bighef than it has been in any corresponding week since 1884, when it was precisely tba same. The reports from tbe principal European countries are now worse .than ever. The rum ora of partial failure of the winter crop in South Russia are confirmed ; a good deal of injury haa been done in Germany, Holland, and Belgium ; and even in Austria-Hungary last week’s reports for tbe first time wers partially unfavourable. As to France, tba outlook there is worse than ever, and a deficiency of many millions of quarters is certain. Cable advices, moreover, tell us that the crop in Victoria has been over-rated by 6,000,000 bushels and that the Sontb

Australian yield is even smaller than it was expected to be, while New South Wales is dissatisfied with results, and the Argentine Republic also. With respect to New Zealand, it is not necessary to say that there is a efficiency and the amountof it is better known there than here. Against all those unfavourable estimates wa have only a moderate prospect for a late crop here and in three or four countries of Continental Europe, with a very good outlook for the winter crop in the United States. The April condition of .■■the American crop is 96.9 per cent, of a fall crop condition, as compared with 84 for April 1890 and with 94 for April 1889. This is very satisfactory, no doubt, but agSinst it there ir to be borne in mind the face (bat preparations (or the spring crop are very backward, scarcely any land having been ploughed by ibe Ist of April and none at all in the chief spr'ng-wbeat States. Under the circumstances, a farther advance in prices seems inevitable.—English Agricultural Correspondent “ Witness”,