ENGLISH PRODUCE PRICES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2416, 25 October 1892, Page 3

ENGLISH PRODUCE PRICES.

The English correspondent of a North Island paper writes: The farmers with whom I have conversed during my travels through the country are in very low spirits. They say that their outlook is more gloomy than it has been any time during the period oi agricultural depression. The average price of wheat is under 30s per quarter, and there is every reason to expect that barley and potatoes will be low in price. Oats sell better than other corn, and for that reason it is a pity that the growth of that crop has been reduced in New Zealand. But the chief disappointment of farmers is in connection with the prices of cattle and sheep, which are lower than they have been for many years past. Store cattle and fat animals are alike slow of sale, and many a man has kept his animais for a whole year without getting any payment for their keep. At Salisbury Sheep Fair, sheep sold at 10s a head less than a year ago, and lambs at 5s a head less. It is too early at present to tell how the ram sales will go off; but they have made a bad start. The low prices of wool help to keep down the value of sheep; but the shortness of feed duriug the spring and early summer has been the chief reason of the fall in prices. Butter and cheese are selling quite as well as usual for the time of year; but the dairy farmers complain that the yield of milk by their cows has been much less than usual. The only animals which sell well are pigs.