154 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



value of its produce. The great fall in prices has been, to 

 some extent, a natural consequence of this state of things ; 

 and values having now assumed a level more in accordance 

 with that of jjrevious years, there is every probability of this 

 important branch of our trade assuming a more healthy 

 condition. The stock in public warehouses and in crushers' 

 liaiids we estimate at 170,000 qrs., being more than double 

 that of the previous year, and a larger stock than has ever 

 been held over in this port. 



Linseed Oil. — Tlie stocks of this article at the com- 

 mencement of the year were light, the value being about 373. 

 6d. per cwt. Au improved demand, partly speculative, deve- 

 loped itself early, the highest point for the season having been 

 attained about the middle of February, when we quoted close 

 upon 42s. per cwt., after which a gradual decline of 2s. to Ss 

 took place, which continued with oecasioual fluctuations, until 

 prices gave way in sympathy with the raw material, as above 

 stated, the lowest point attained being 273. per cwt. We 

 however close the year with a sl'ght improvement, the price 

 being 28s. 3d. to 2Ss. 6d. per cwt. The natural effect of a 

 high range of prices during the year has been a considerable 

 fallin-r off in the extent of our exports to the continent, which 

 are 7,184 tons, against 12,549 tons in 1856. The stocks, 

 which were considerable two mouths ago, have been much re- 

 duced, and the low price has attracted the attention of specu- 

 lative purchasers for forward delivery, at prices about 2s. per 

 cwt. above the value on the spot, thereby showing a greater 

 degree of confidence in the article than has been evinced for 

 manj weeks past. 



Linseed Cakes. — The year commenced with small stocks, 

 and prices of best Hull- make et £10 10s. pet ton. A brisk 

 demand towards the end of January, backed by limited sup- 

 plies, drove prices up to £12 2s. 6d., \\hich was the highest 

 figure they reached during the year. Up to the month of June 

 the demand wast slow, at a decline of 30s. per ton, when, owing 

 to the dry scorching weather, they became in great request, at 

 advancing rates, say £11 fof best quality, with a considerable 

 demand for forward delivery at 53. to lOs. more. There was 

 little variation in the value for immediate delivery up to Oct., 

 when the fiue autumnal weather, which reached far into Dec., 

 interfered with the demand, and the value gradually fell to £9 

 15s. per ton. The stocks held by crushers are comparatively 

 light, and many makers decline working at the present low 

 rates of this article and oil, owing to the uiiremunerative 

 nature of the business. Foreign of good quality have been in 

 fair demand during the year ; these are now in small supply, 

 a great portion of the present stock being inferior in quality 

 and condition. The imports of foreign this year show a con- 

 siderable increase, being 14,261 tons, against 9,547 tons at the 

 close of last year. A steady consumptive demand has been ex- 

 perienced throughout the year for all good foreign qualities, at 

 proportionate prices to the English manufacture, say from £8 to 

 £8 5s. per ton, for " small-shaped" cakes. An increased pro- 

 portion of the imports consisted of large English-shaped cakes, 

 which, on account of their form and superior quality to the 

 ordinary make, commanded prices approximate to the value of 

 beat English manufacture. Towards the close of the year 

 arrivals have been moderate; but the consumption of cakes, on 

 acrount of the mildness of the season, has been equally limited. 

 Stocks in warehouse are considered of fair ^xteut, being prin- 

 cipally of low qualities, and consisting of about 2,500 tons, 

 against 1,300 tons the year before, 



Rapeseed. — The import of this article considerably exceeds 

 previous years, being 6,lt0 lasts, against 1,690 and 1,404 

 lasts the two previous years. Prices of new German seed 

 ruled in the autumn mouths about £35 to about £36 per last; 

 since then, owing to the languid demand for od, the value has 

 receded to £29 to £30, but these prices must be considered as 

 nominal, purchasers for the present beiug quite out of the 

 market. Stocks are, however, very light, and witti an im- 

 provement in manufacturing districts, a better demand may be 

 expected. The bulk of the imports has this year been on 

 crushers' account, little appearing in our market. 



Rapeseed Oil.— The demand throughout the year has 

 continued to be a purely consumptive one, and at no time was 

 there anythmg worthy of particular note in the value or de- 

 mand of either English or foreign, the import of the latter 

 having been on a very limited scale. The supply exceeding the 

 demand during the few last months, brought prices down to £42 

 for brown, and £44 to £45 for pale oil, at which the year closes. 



Rape Cakes. — The value of this article has ruled unusu* 

 ally the same throughout the year, there having been a fair 

 demand for good green qualities at £6 to £6 10s. untd the 

 last few months, wheu they declined 10.s. to ISs. per ton, 

 Foreign cakes have fluctuated from £5 7s. 0"d. to £5 12s. 6d. 

 per ton, their present value, up to £3 15a. per ton, the highest 

 price reached in March aud August. Imports went into con- 

 sumption as they arrived, and there consequently has been no 

 accumulation of stock. 



Olive Oil. — The import this year has been 3,410 tuns 

 against 4,920 tuna in 1856, the present stock remaining a 

 trifle over that of last year at the same time. Prices, as was 

 anticipated, were well maintained with little variation during 

 the first niue months of the year; subsequently, in conse- 

 quence of the reports of good crops, larger supplies than 

 usual of Rapeseed, and forced sales during the money panic, 

 prices have ruled very irregular, aud are expected to continue 

 moderate for some time to come, owing to favourable crops, 

 and from the fact of the largest holder at Naples realizing all 

 his heavy stock, causing a reduction in the price of about £15 

 per tun free on board from the highest point. 



Flax. — The import for the year has been 19,466 tons, 

 against 18,941 tons in 1856, 14,909 tons in 1855, and 12,271 

 tons in 1854. Of the present year's import, 8,870 tons are 

 from the Baltic, against 9,030 tons in 1856, 7,465 tons in 

 1855, and 4,331 tons in 1854 ; the remaining quantities were 

 received as follows, viz. : 3,852 tons from Holland, 5,583 tons 

 from Belgium, 86 S tons from France, and from sundry ports 

 295 tons. The imports of Tow and Coddia amount to 3,381 

 tons, of which 2,323 came from St. Petersburg, and only 20 

 tons from Archangel. During the season the consumption 

 has been of a healthy character, but since the mouey panic 

 prices have been more irregular, and the demand limited to 

 the actual requirements of the spinners, the mills being put on 

 short time. It must, however, be remarked, that during the 

 late depression the linen trade has suffered much less than any 

 of the leading branches of the matiufactures of the country. 

 The stock of Flax is moderate at this port, aud a revival iu 

 the consumption is confidently anticipated. 



Hemp. — Of this article the imports are 1,575 tons from 

 Petersburg, 1,157 tons from Riga, 62 tons from Bombay, and 

 145 tons from sundries, making a total of 2,939 tons, against 

 4,043 tons In 1850,3,341 toes in 1855, and 2,690 tons in 

 1854. The coiisuioptioa of Hemp for roping purposes is 

 evidently much curtailed by many substitutes now brought 

 into use, but the short Hemps, for manufacturiug purposes, 

 are much demamled. The prices of clean Hemp during the year 

 have been much affected by the extensive speculations entered 

 into during the winter and spriug at St. Petersburg. Iu aiditiou 

 to the influence of the la'.e money panic, the heavy stock of 

 clean held iu London has greatly increased the decline in value, 

 and takes away any present prospect of advance in prices. 



Tallow. — Ttie largest proportion of our import into this 

 place, which this year reached 3,000 tons against 2,160 last 

 year, goes direct to the consumers, or into t le hands of Liver- 

 pool houses, the prices being regulated by those of the Lon- 

 don markets, to a very great extent, in which the fluctuations 

 have this year been remarkable. The stock on hand is about 

 2,000 casks against 500 last year, and the value 533. per cwt. 



laON. — Our imports this year are 34,000 tons against 

 32,000 in 1856. Tse prospect of good demand in the begin- 

 ning of the year was realized to some extent, a considerable 

 business passing during the spring months at slightly ad- 

 vanced prices. A fair proportion of our large supplies have 

 gone into cousumption ; but for the last few months the in- 

 fluence of the money panic, which from the extensive trans- 

 actions with the U. S. was first felt iu this trade, hes ren- 

 dered business impracticable, and we close the year with 

 considerable stocks oa hand, which can only be reduced by a 

 resumption of activity iu our manufacturiug districts, and a 

 sound uatural demand from other countries. 



Hides. — The imports during the year have been very li- 

 mited of all sorts of continental hides, except Petersburg kips, 

 of which rather a large quantity has come. Prices ruled very 

 high up to September ; since then a very rapid decline took 

 place, and present quotations, though in some instances 30 to 

 40 per cent, less, must be considered nominal from the ab- 

 sence of buyers. The stock is small in this market. 



Cattle Bones. — The import this year is 14,261 tons, 

 against 16,200 in '56, From its commencement a gradual 



