THE OAT CROP IN SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 18, 1 May 1902, Page 13

THE OAT CROP IN SOUTHLAND.

Writing on the prospects of the Southland oat crop the Invercargill Times ' sa.\s it ;s a subject of general conversation that the excellent prices ruling for oats this, season will substantially benefit the revenue of the farming population The amount of the g,rain ma\ , perhaps, be estimated with more approximate accuracy than by a guess at hazard. A fair forecast of the trafhc for the approaching season would be 600,000 .sacks of four bushels, or 2,400,000 bushels The price which has prevailed during late years has averaged Is 3d, while this season the average at the lowest has been 2s. A simple sum will show that an advance of 9d per bushel on 2,400,000 bushels is equivalent to an aggregate increase of £90,000 m the value of the .crop. It would not be oveibold to i etkon that the rise in the value of oats will return £100,000 to the farmers of Southland this year, a s,um which should \ery largely compensate for the depression in the wool market at sale time

Messrs. Donald Reild and Co , Limited, report as follows :—: — Oats — Good to prime (quality are well competed for at prices on a par with late values Inferior and discolored lots do not meet the same demand, and are not so readily ([tutted. Quotations Prime milling, 2s 7d to 2s 8d ; good to best feed, 2s sid to 2s 6}d , inferior to medium, 2s 2d to 2s 5d per bushel (sacks extra) Wheat —Of prime quality there is \cry little on offer, and quotations for' this class are nominal. Medium, quality is not so much sought after, and fowl wheats although m fair demand, is only saleable at a slight reduction. Quotations : Prime milling,, 4s to 4s 4d , medium, 3s 8d to 3s lid , whole fowl wheat, 3s 3d to 3s Gd . broken and damaged, 3s to 3s 3d per bushel (sacks extia) Potatoes — Prune Perwents continue to meet with a fair inqtuiy Supplies aie somewli.it hea\iei, and late values are barely maintained Quotations .—Best Derwents, £5 to £5 5s , medium and other sorts, £4 10s to £4 15s per ton (sacks m) Chaff —The market is completely glutted A large proportion of the supiply is only ot medium quality, for which there is poor demand Prime quality is in most favor, but is only saleable at a reduction of 15s to 20s per ton on last week's \ allies. Quotations Pi ime oaten sheaf £4 10s to £1 15s prime old chaff, to £5 . good. £4 to £4 7s <Yd. inferior and medium, £.'5 to £-> Ijs per ton (ba«s extra)

Mr F. Meenan, King street, reports :— Wholesale prices only— Oats : Milling, 2s 6d to 2s 7d , feeding,, os to i2s ™. Wheat (good demand) : Milling. 4s to 4s 3d , fowls 3s fid Potatoes, £.> to (j-, o's Chaff : Inferior to medium, £3 10s to £4 ; prime, £•> Straw (scaicc) • Pressed £2 , loose none in market. Flour . oOoS sacks. £H 10s , 501 b £12 5s or )tt , 10s Oatmeal: 2olb, £14 10s Butter : Dairy, 7d to 9c , ficlorv Is Cheese Dairy, d*<l . torv,' 5d Ears, is 8d Onions ■ Christcliurch, £6