THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



365 



among thein were Birmingham, Wakefield, and 

 Bristol, ■ffliile Wolverhampton and Chelmsford 

 quoted a fall of Is. to is. No reports were cheer- 

 ful, the majority merely indicating a heavy state of 

 trade. French wheat was again rather cheaper at 

 Liverpool on Tuesday, but Friday's report only noted 

 a small attendance, and retail trade. London was 

 then certainly tending to lower rates. 



The fourth Monday occurring after a week's very 

 fine weather, with fair supplies both English and 

 foreign, did not require a laige quantity from the 

 near counties to make a heavy market, especially as 

 there was a liberal arrival of American flour. 

 Though Kent and Essex scarcely sent an average 

 quantity, millers held olT, and notwithstanding fac- 

 tors were willing to take a reduction of 2s. per qr., 

 only a small portion was sold on these terms, an 

 apprehension apparently prevailing that the breaking 

 up of the frost would soon largely increase the arri- 

 vals from abroad. The foreign trade was in a state 

 of stagnation, sales being only possible in retail at a 

 similar decline. In the country about a similar 

 decline took place : Hull, Lynn, St. Ives, Gainsbro', 

 Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Manchester, and Bris- 

 tol were all Is. to 2s. lower, Louth giving way 2s. 

 to 3s. per qr. Liverpool, on Tuesday, was Id. per 

 70 lbs. cheaper, with a very small business ; but Fri- 

 day was dull, without change. 



The fifth Monday had very short supplies from 

 Kent and Essex, but an extreme duluess prevailed, 

 and prices further receded 2s. per qr. 



The arrivals into the port of London during the 

 five weeks referred to were 2i,580 qrs. English; 

 29,551 qrs. foreign ; giving a weekly average of 

 10,826 qrs., and showing a decrease as compared 

 with February, of 1,703 qrs. per week; the falling 

 ofl' being only in foreign qualities. 



The flour trade has been in keeping with that of 

 wheat; the top price of Town-made was reduced 

 on the 5th Monday to 40s. ; Norfolks were un- 

 changed till the fourth Monday, when they were re- 

 duced from the nominal rate, 32s. to 30s. per sack, 

 with a very limited sale at the quotations. French 

 and American also on this day receded fully Is. per 

 sack and brl. ; the arrivals of the latter being larger 

 than during any week since the lith of December, 

 1857. The closing price of Norfolk was 29s. The 

 supplies from the country have been constantly large, 

 and have greatly interfered with the wheat trade, 

 London millers being thus undersold. 



During the five weeks, the receipts have been 

 93,921 sacks of country made ; 8,311 sacks French, 

 &c., and 26,70i brls. American; giving a weekly 

 average of 20,440 sacks and 5,340 brls. 



In barley throughout the month there has been 

 scarcely any alteration, London having been very 

 moderately supplied with really fine malting quality, 

 and the seed demand running through the month has 

 taken off all choice lots at full rates. From abroad 

 also less has come to hand, the heavy supplies of low 

 Mediterranean sorts having ceased, and those that 

 were previously stored having been partly worked 

 off in mixture with oats, as cheaper food. Our own 

 stocks of this grain getting reduced, there seems 

 every prospect that whatever foreign arrivals appear 

 they will find a sale, or not remain long in store. 



The arrivals during the five weeks have been, in 



English 17,087 qrs., in foreign 29,075 qrs., making 

 an average of 9,231 qrs. per week, against 13,726 

 qrs. weekly in February. 



The malt trade has been little altered, fair sup- 

 plies being kept up, and about the same prices 

 realized from the beginning of the month to its close 

 for fine qualities. 



Tiic oat trade has been remarkably steady, on 

 short arrivals scarcely any quotable change oc- 

 curring, and the cause of this grain's not ad- 

 vancing can only be found in the quantity of Rus- 

 sian landed during former gluts, which have served 

 to feed the market in the absence of ship samples. 

 Had it not been, however, for increased supplies 

 from Ireland, it would have been impossible to keep 

 prices down, and even with their help cargoes of 

 sweet Riga and Petersburg qualities have been held 

 at rather more money. From Scotland as well as 

 from foreign ports the supplies have been reduced. 

 On the fifth Monday prices improved 6d. per qr. 



The receipts during five weeks have been 5,317 qrs. 

 English, 6,503 qrs. Scotch, 21,880 qrs. Irish, and 

 27,3(K) qrs. foreign, giving a total weekly average 

 of only 12,213 qrs., which is 4,991 qrs. weekly 

 below February arrivals. 



Beans and peas, in the comparative absence of 

 foreign supplies, till the last week have rather im- 

 proved in value, especially the former, to the extent 

 of 1 s. to 2s. per qr. Boiling peas, which slowly found 

 favour in the cold weather, have again upon its 

 ceasing diminished in consumption : maples and 

 duns remaining scarce have commanded good prices 

 from retail buyers, who prefer them to cheaper sub- 

 stitutes. Of English beans the quantity received has 

 been 4,785 qrs., of foreign 4,593 qrs. Of foreign 

 peas there were only 105 qrs., and 1,663 qrs. English. 



In linseed there has been little change : the first 

 j\Ionday of the month noted a rise of Is., and at this 

 improvement the market has remained with a quiet 

 trade; but cakes all through have been much in 

 request, and notwithstanding some large supplies 

 recently received from the United States, they have 

 commanded about former prices. 



The cloverseed ti'ade, checked at first by the fiost, 

 on the return of fine weather did not meet the expecta- 

 tion of holders ; the season getting late, those who 

 have stocks of foreign have been uneasy at the slack- 

 ness of the demand, especially as it appears that the 

 first reports of the English crop were below the 

 reality. A good deal of red seed it now appears 

 was produced, but part of it being badly harvested, 

 the extent of the injury was exaggerated, the bulk 

 being fit for sowing, though discoloured; and as the 

 farmers have not received hidi prices for their wheat, 

 they have been less disposed to buy too dearly. A 

 fair trade came at the month's close, however, at 

 lower rates ; and great mices arc not now to be 

 looked for, either in red or white seed, or trefoil. 

 Canaryseed had a start during the intense frost, but 

 with mild weather it seems likely again to recede, 

 as the Dutch ports must have some to spare at pre- 

 sent prices ; and Hambro', now free, is likely to send 

 some spring tares, which have been scarce and dear. 

 Rapeseed has been a better sale, the plants being 

 reported abroad as partly injured. Mustard, heriip- 

 seed, carraway, coriander, &c., have very little varied 

 during the month's course. 



