THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



265 



REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE 



DURING THE PAST MONTH. 



The month of July was propitious, and brought 

 a few of the first-fruits of harvest, but much de- 

 pended on the weather of August as to the general 

 gathering. We liave now to congratulate the agri- 

 cultural interest generally, that they have passed 

 this period of anxiety under a favouring Provi- 

 dence, who has again sheltered the produce of the 

 field in the time of its exposure, and permitted the 

 bulk of the harvest to be safely gathered, givmg 

 the nation another period of gladness, as well as a 

 fresh incentive to gratitude. Though occasional 

 showers and thunderstorms have in some localities 

 led to a hurried carrying unfavourable to condition, 

 and some injury, especially to barley, these are the 

 exceptions : the greater portion by far was got in 

 fine and dry. As compared with the extraordinary 

 crop of last year, the yield, as well as quality, of 

 the wheat, as far as yet ascertained, is inferior, but 

 we hope an average will be realized. There has been, 

 undoubtedly, much blight in certain places, with 

 very light weight ; but some favoured spots claim 

 an equal produce with last season. In foreign 

 countries, as a whole, scarcely an average is ex- 

 ])ected, especially in the South of Europe and 

 America; but the over-left abundance of 1857, we 

 trust, will fill up any void on emergency. Still the 

 whole world has a lesson of its dependence, in the 

 fact that no one is certain that there, will be a 

 month's store on hand on the eve of the next 

 harvest; while it is morally certain that all the 

 other grain crops are below the wheat estimate, and 

 quite fail as a last resort. Up to this period the 

 crop of potatoes has been well spoken of, as to pro- 

 ductiveness and freedom from disease ; but we are 

 sorry to say that, since the cold rains, complaints 

 on the latter score begin to increase, and we fear 

 the late sorts may yet turn out badly. The maize 

 in Southern Europe has quite recovered ; but a 

 good crop, on such a late sowing as became neces- 

 sary this season in America, seems next to impos- 

 sible, as the fine weather and frosts must be pro- 

 tracted beyond reasonable calculation to secure it. 

 Field occupation has made thin markets in the 

 country, and with favourable weather prices have 

 given way about '2s. per qr. in the course of tiie 

 month ; but it is to be observed that the deliveries 

 have much increased, and exceed those of last 

 season, though it was the reverse in July. This 

 maybe partly attributable to the good prices which 

 were first made of new wheat, and partly to its safe 



gathering. Should the necessities of some growers 

 make supplies liberal, dull markets, and rather 

 lower rates, for a time, may result; but eventually 

 we expect prices will improve as the inferiority of 

 the new produce becomes evident, and the stores 

 of spring corn get exhausted, especially should 

 foreign supplies fall off. The best crops this year 

 appear to be in Sweden, Denmai'k, Northern Ger- 

 many, and England. The following prices are 

 given to show the different markets ; France 

 having gradually declined in prices since the com- 

 pletion of harvest, which is reported an ordinary 

 average for wheat, the Paris quotation for good 

 quahtyis only 41s., Bourgogne to 39s. 6d., the 

 best flour being about 35s. per 280lbs. English. 

 At Marseilles, Marianopoli was quoted 43s. 2d., 

 Berdianski 44s. 3d. per qr. ; while at Algiers, in 

 consequence of limited supplies, Spanish orders, 

 and Government purchases for the army, both soft 

 and hard wheat were about 44s. Gd. per qr. In 

 Spain, where the crop is middling, prices were still 

 high, 43s. 6d. pei sack being paid at Santanderfor 

 the best flour, and 49s. 6d. per qr. for French 

 ■wheat; in the roads, at Barcelona hard Seville 

 wheat was worth 60s. 9d. In Belgium, where 

 lately great excitement obtained, markets have 

 rapidly receded, and now appear settled at 4Ss. to 

 52s. At Amsterdam the top price was 53s. 3d. ; 

 new at Maestricht brought 48s. per qr., and old 

 49s. 6d. At Danzic the best high-mixed wheat 

 was worth 53s. per qr. free on board, which is 

 about its value in the London market. At Stettin 

 and Hambro' red wheat was held at 50s. per qr, ; 

 Berlin quoted 53s. for fined cjuahty mixed. At 

 Bale quotations were no higher than 41s. per qr. 

 The last accounts from America noted some im- 

 provement in the sale and value of wheat; common 

 Canada white was held at 3Ss. per qr., Western 

 red winter 40s., Southern red 44s. Sd., and white 

 46s. 5d. At Odessa prices are higher, in conse- 

 quence of unfavourable advices from the interior. 

 Ghirka wheat was quoted at 42s., Berdianski 43s. 

 At Berdianski the price was 39s., and markets quiet. 

 The first Monday's market in London com- 

 menced on moderate supplies of wheat, both foreign 

 and English. The supply for the morning from 

 Kent and Essex was very short, and included 

 about 300 qrs. of the new crop, mostly white, and 

 inferior to the growth of last year ; the white bring- 

 ing from 48s. to 54s. per qr., and the led 42s. 



