150 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



be imported to compete with home-grown at present currency. 

 The partial failure of the crop of wheat in America in 1858 

 was expected to have its effect on the value in thia ccuatry, 

 but the abundance of our owa, combined with the unparalleled 

 export of breadstuflfa from France as ako the Lov/ Countries, 

 quits counterbalanced any shortcomings from our transatlan- 

 tic brethren ; and although the crop in the North of Europe 

 and Rhenish Provinces was only moderate, thia had but little 

 if any influence. We commenced the present year with prices 

 at a very moderate range, say 403. per qr. of 504 lbs. lor good 

 red English wheat, and Norfolk flour 27s. 6d. per sack, a 

 price lower than for sii years previous. From the opening of 

 the present year up to April but little change took place, 

 when, owing to the uncertain state of political affairs and the 

 disturbed condition of Central and Southern Europe, some 

 animation was apparent, and prices advanced 23. to Ss. perqr., 

 English wheat being worth, about the middle of that month, 

 433. to 443. per qr. of 504 lbs. ; fine old red foreign 45s. to 

 463., and Dantzig 503. to 523. per qr. of 480 lbs. Towards 

 the close of the month of April and daring the first week in 

 May, great excitement was produced in the grain market by 

 the outbreak of hostilities between Francs and Austria, and 

 wheat in the course of ten days advanced about 153., and in 

 the beginning of May 6O3. per 504 lbs. was freely paid for 

 English red. This rapid advance, however, was destined to 

 be only of short duration ; the bank rate of iaterest advanced, 

 and the probability of hostilities being confined to the Italian 

 States, caused a sharp reaction, and prices receded during the 

 week ending 10th of May, 83. to lOs. per qr., there being 

 sellers of English red at 503. This decline was partially re- 

 covered the following week to the extent of 28. to 4s., but at 

 the close of the mouth, we find English red again quoted SOs., 

 and other qualities in proportion. These rates were main- 

 tained to about the middle of June, when, owing to 

 increased arrivals from abroad, the favourable prospects 

 for the coming crop, and the large import of French 

 flour, prices receded fully 5 s. per quarter, with some tri- 

 fling advance towards the close of the month ; and but 

 little variation was apparent until about the middle of July, 

 when, under the influence of brilliant weather, the supension 

 of hostilities in Italy, and promises of au abundant harvest in 

 America, English Wheat receded to 42s. to 44s. per qr. From 

 this time up to the end of August but little change took 

 place; the extraordinarily hot summer was found to have done 

 injury in many districts, and the yield of the new crop, when 

 tested by thrashing, proved deficient to a very considerable 

 extent as compared with the harvest of 1858. Although this 

 became a clearly ascertained fact, and also that the harvest in 

 France and Belgium was found to be short of au average, still, 

 owing to the surplus left over from the last crop and the ac- 

 cumulation of stocks ia granary, we close the year with prices 

 only about 5s. per qr. above those of tLis period last year as 

 regards English Wheat and 23. to 3s. for foreign. For the 

 present speculation is dormant, but the stocks in granary here 

 are held with great firmness, and growers show no disposition 

 to bring forward any large supplies ; looking to the future 

 courae of the trade, prospects for some moderate improve- 

 ment may be fairly calculated upon, more especially as imports 

 are likely to fall off very materially tor some time to come ; 

 and although the stocks in granary exceed those of last year, 

 being 95,000 qrs., the quantity of fine Wheat may not exceed 

 half, the remainder being secondary quality, and held consi- 

 derably above the present market value. 



BARLEY.— We have again to record a large and impor- 

 tant .trade in the cereals, which having been based upon purely 

 consumptive requirements, has generally speaking been a pro- 

 fitable one. The arrivals np to the end of the year amount 

 to 245,728 qrs., or about 31,000 qrs, more than last year, 

 which have been drawn from the usual channels, viz., Den- 

 mark and the Euxine ; but this year the Saale and Rhine dis- 

 tricts have also been contributors to some extent, and the Eng- 

 glish crop having proved under an average in quantity, and 

 generally very poor in quality, Danish and German, which is 

 of fine quality this year, has been taken eagerly by our malt- 

 sters, and given general satisfaction. Grinding qualities have 

 also mostly all gone into consumption on arrival, and stocks 

 altogether are slender in consequence, viz., about 8,500 qrs , 

 against 35,000 qrs. at the end of 1858. Prices advanced 

 gradually until the end of ihe malting season (May and June), 

 when a decline of a few shillings took place ; but they hsve 



since again steadily crept up, and are now at the highest 

 point attained during the year, or about 3s. to 4s. higher than 

 at the same period last year- Finest English is quoted in this 

 locality 403. to 42?., ditto foreign 38s. to 40s., medium Eng- 

 lish and foreign 348. to 363., all per qr. (561b3.) Stout grind- 

 ing 303. to 31s., and thin 283. 6d. to 29s. Gd. per qr. (52ilbs.) 



OATS. — We last year reported a falling off in the import 

 of this grain of some 38,000 qrs., and this year our tables show 

 another considerable decrease in the imports, say of about 

 33,000 qrs., our total imports for the year having dwindled 

 down to 23,366 qrs,, against 61,435 qrs. in 1858. Prices were 

 at their highest in May, when sinister rumours in connection 

 with the war then waging also had its effect upon this article, 

 since which time, however, they have declined about 23., and 

 are now about Is. above last year at this time, good corn being 

 worth 23s. to 24s. per qr. (421b.) Stocks only light, say 3,700 

 qrs., against 8,000 qrs. end of last year. 



BEANS. — Our imports have been slightly in excess of 

 those of the preceding year, say 56,464 qrs. against 55,871 

 qrs. With the exception of the general rise in grain in the 

 month of May, prices have ruled remarkably steady through- 

 out the year, and stand at 403. to 41s. per qr. (601bs.) for good 

 foreign middles, or about 2s. higher than they were marked a 

 twelvemonth ago. Stocks in hand are computed at 8,500 

 qrs. (mostly Egyptian and Mazagau) against 15,500 qrs. 

 last year. 



PEAS.— -Supplies from abroad have been scanty of this 

 pulse, say only 17,806 qrs. against 25,821 qrs. last year, which 

 deficiency, however is amply counter-balanced by the more 

 abundant home-produce. Prices have been steady, excepting 

 the short vibration in May, and are now within Is. of those 

 of last year, being 393. to 40s. for white. Our stocks are 

 3,600 qrs., against 3,000 qrs. last year. 



AGRICULTURAL SEED.— The season of 1859 saw some 

 considerable variations in the values of both red and white 

 cloverseed. At the commencement the prices of red clovers 

 were moderate, but the reports of the deficiency of the crops 

 in this country, and in most of the producing countries on the 

 Continent being confirmed, prices gradually rose 58. to Gs. per 

 cwt. until the middle of the season, when larger supplies coming 

 forward than was expected, chiefly from America, and of inferior 

 descriptions of English seed, the value receded rapidly, falling 

 about lis. to 143. per cwt. from its highest point, and although 

 there was a slight reaction at the termination of the season, 

 prices closed considerably below their opening point. The 

 value of seed is now moderate, and as little business has been 

 done this autumn, an active demand may cause some slight 

 advance when the season comes on ; but we do not see any 

 reason, with the present prospects, to anticipate any material 

 rise in value. The stock of old white clover at the commence- 

 ment of last season was considerably below an average, and as 

 the new crops (of 1858) were badly spoken of, prices opened 

 comparatively high — say from 65s. to 85s. per cwt., according 

 to quality ; as the season progressed, however, the scarcity of 

 offers and supplies confirmed the reported small yield, and 

 prices rapidly advanced 20s. to 30s. per cwt., the highest price 

 reached in this market being 115s. per cwt. The prices of 

 trefoil were moderate during last season, and declined still 

 further at the close, when some quantity of foreign seed was 

 bought at easy prif-es to hold over, and such investments are 

 now likely to turn out well, as the new English crop is yield- 

 ing very indifferently, and the foreign supplies of new seed, it 

 is reported, will not be large. The present values are 26s. to 

 283. per cwt. for fine new seed, and 2l3. to 243. per cwt. for 

 yearling, new English having advanced Is. to 23. per cwt. 

 during the past fcff weeks. We see no reason why these 

 prices should not be maintained, or perhaps even exceeded to 

 a slight extent. 



LINSEED. — This port continues its marked supremacy 

 for this article and its products. Our direct imports of lin- 

 seed this year amount to 467,755 qrs,, against 376,749 qrs. 

 last year ; further receipts per rail from Liverpool and our 

 supplies coastwise are computed at 60,000 qrs., against 

 42,000 qrs., making a total difference in favour of this year's 

 impoit over last of 100,000 qrs., the excess being from the 

 Black and Azoff Seaa. The actual amount of seed gone into 

 consumption (as the .stock remaining in all hands, say 90,000 

 qrs., is nearly the same as the quantity held on the Ist of 

 January), stand as follows : — 



