186 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE 



DURING THE PAST MONTH. 



The first month of the new year has been mild 

 and damp, with a considerable fall of rain, and but 

 little frost. The change. of temperature has facili- 

 tated the growth of the younjr wheat, and made 

 that appear above ground which had not previously 

 sprouted ; but some land destined for autumn 

 planting has hitherto been unsown, and must now 

 either have spring v/heat or Lent corn. 7'lie fre- 

 quent fluctuations in the weather have lifted many 

 of the plants, and the birds have been unusually 

 active in the way of mischief; so without a very 

 propitious spring and summer, there is no great 

 prospect of a heavy crop. But the samples newly - 

 thrashed have suffered most, the condition being 

 so wretched as to make them unsaleable, unless at 

 very losing rates, while what has been dry has about 

 maintained former value. Good old has, therefore, 

 been invaluable to millers, as well as dry foreign ; 

 and but for a liberal use of both, a good sack of 

 flour would have been difficult to procure. With 

 the condition so against them, farmers have had no 

 chance, nor does there now seem much hope till 

 the March winds have set matters right in this re- 

 spect. 



To thrash freely under such circumstances seems 

 a suicidal act, and only justifiable by stern neces- 

 sity; and by the less bountiful supply of the 

 markets lately, it would appear such is becoming 

 the resolve. The more liberal deliveries since har- 

 vest up to this point have been shaped into a prac- 

 tical argument against the deficiency of the last 

 crop. But growers who have former rents to ])a)', 

 without reahzing former prices, well understand 

 how much more stock must be quitted to meet en- 

 gagements ; andas the season gets on, we may see 

 the eflfects in diminished supplies and better mar- 

 kets. The programme of the French Emperor, 

 which has been published so suddenly, shows a full 

 intention to adopt the principle of free trade ; but 

 there are strong opposing interests in France to be 

 conciliated or coerced, and it may be another year 

 before the plan is fully acted on. As yet, the pros- 

 pect has somewhat shaken speculative operations 

 in Paris, sales for distant delivery having received 

 a sudden check. But so far as this country is con- 

 cerned, no great change is probable, as prices in 

 France are about equal to what they are here. The 

 cessation of frost in the Baltic has a more imme- 

 diate effect, as, where any margin appears, ship- 

 ments may recommence by steam or otherwise ; 

 and while the ports of the United Kingdom keep 

 moderately supplied on generally good stocks, no 

 immediate advance can be expected. From the 

 United States it seems improbable much will come, 

 as New York, though extremely sensitive to any 

 rise in Europe, is slow in yielding to the influence 

 of such dull accounts as have been lately received. 

 The intense frost of last month has done much da- 

 mage to the potatoes stored, as well as to other 

 roots, and keep has become scarce. 



The following quotations for wheat in foreign 

 markets will show how little can be sent here with 

 a prospect of profit. Fine wheat at Paris is worth 

 about 47s. per qr. ; first quality wheat at Louvain 

 brought 52s. per qr., weighing 64lbs. per bushel; 

 Polish high mixed, at Amsterdam, was quoted 56s. 

 perqr. ; red wheat, at Groningen, 62lbs. per bush., 

 40s. per qr. ; good 62lbs. Mark wheat, at Hambro', 

 brought 4Ss. per qr. ; the best Rostock and Pome- 

 ranian, for spring shipment, being quoted the same ; 

 at Stettin, Pomeranian and Uckermark, CSlbs. per 

 bushel, 45s. 9d. per qr. ; the price at Cologne was 

 47s. perqr. ; fine high-mixed wheat, at Danzig, 

 was still worth 50s. per qr. ; Berlin and Konigs- 

 berg quoted 48s. ; at Petersburg, Paissian wheat 

 for June delivery was 41s. per qr. ; Ghirka, at 

 Odessa, had sold at 39s. per qr. At Galatz some 

 large sales have been lately made, at 32s. Qd. to 

 33s. 6d. per qr, Naples, with good arrivals, had de- 

 clined in wheat to 47s. Native wheat at Genoa 

 being scarce, brought 54s. In Algiers stocks were 

 small, and hard wheat was worth 47s. per qr. The 

 Spanish markets were very irregular, accord- 

 ing to supplies or the difticulty or facility of tran- 

 sit ; white wheat at Santander was quoted 55s., 

 soft wheat at Burgos and Yalladolid 41s, to 42s., 

 and soft at Lisbon 57s. per qr. 



Spring wheat at Chicago 97 c. per bush., or 32s, 

 4d. per qr. of 480lbs. New York had lately expe- 

 rienced some speculative inquiry. Milwaukie Club 

 and red State had sold at id. 25c. per bushel, 

 equal to 41s. 8d. per 480lbs. ; white Southern red 

 1 d. 45 c. per bushel, equal to 48s. 4d. per 480lbs. ; 

 prime white Kentucky at 1 d. 55c., equal to 51s, 

 8d. per qr, of 4S0lbs., or, at 63lbs. per bushel, to 

 54s, 3d. per qr. 



The first Monday in London commenced on a 

 small supply of foreign, and a moderate one of 

 English AVheat. But few samples were showing 

 from Kent and Essex, and these were moetly much 

 out of condition. Those that were dry, or in com- 

 paratively good order, went oflT at fully the pre- 

 vious quotations ; but most were below millers' 

 wants, and remained unsold. The market being 

 still of a holiday character, there was very little 

 passing in foreign, and that at former rates. The 

 country markets exactly corresponded with the 

 London trade; the bulk exhibited was damp, and 

 could only be sold accordingly; but all useful 

 qualities commanded a somewhat better sale at the 

 previous quotations ; but Liverpool at the close of 

 the week was id. per cental cheaper. Scotland 

 generally was dull, both Edinburgh and Glasgow 

 only being able to make sales somewhat in buyers' 

 favour. The Irish markets were in calm. 



The second Monday was rather better supplied 

 than the first in foreign qualities. The morning's 

 contribution from Kent and Essex was moderate, 

 and as some dry weather had intervened, the con- 

 dition was rather better; but there were still many 



