GRAIN AND PRODUCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 February 1939, Page 4

GRAIN AND PRODUCE

CANTERBURY MARKETS. LESS ACTIVITY THAN USUAL. (By Telegraph—T'ress Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 10. The Canterbury grain and produce, markets are less active than is usual at this time of the year, chiefly because the North Island demand for small seeds is not up to the average. The chief interest is in potatoes, for which quotation for May-June-July delivery has jumped £4 10s a ton. The reason for the rise—last week’s quotation was £3 15s —is the perennial hope that Australia will lift the embargo and allow Dominion growers a share of that very attractive market. There has been some agitation in Australia recently for the removal of the embargo. That does not necessarily mean anything. Australians sought unsuccessfully to have the embargo removed last season, but the agitation does seem to have increased in volume, and growers and merchants are inclined to think that the turning point in a long struggle may not be far off. They feel that the embargo will be lifted this season if it is to be. lifted at all. The outlook for Peninsula cocksfoot growers is not bright. In the first place the demand is not as good as usual, largely because merchants have carried over a large amount of highpriced seed from last season, and in the second place competition from Plains seed must be met. The Plains crop has been larger and of better quality this season, and growers have been meeting the market well. There seems no possibility of the Peninsula seed obtaining a premium over Plains. Yesterday’s quotation of 6d a lb is the same as for Plains seed.

Ryegrass samples coming in continue to show very low germinations, and very little seed has changed hands. Merchants are finding it very difficult to determine just what the value of this low germination seed is. It seems beyond doubt that many farmers will have to carry their own ryegrass crops this year. It is not known yet whether the southern ryegrass crop is better than the Canterbury one. Perennial ryegrass showing about 90 per cent germination is quoted at from 3s 6d to 4s, and Italian at 2s 6d. One or two early lots of white clover have come on the market. Merchants’ idea of value is 9d to lid a lb.