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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE 



DURING THE PAST MONTH. 



During the past month considerable progress 

 has been made in the autumnal tillage, and a fair 

 breadth of wheat has already been got in favour- 

 ably, though there were interruptions in the earlier 

 part of it, as well as a serious and destructive fall 

 of rain on the 22nd for the Low Countries, both to 

 cattle as well as tenements and the soil. The ex- 

 traordinary state of aflfairs in America having had 

 serious influence on the markets generally, the 

 corn trade has felt the pressure, and the calcula- 

 tions which might fairly be made for ordinary times 

 have therefore been set aside, and the future, 

 always uncertain, seems more than usually dubious. 

 There is, however, so much of unreasonable panic 

 in times of monetary derangement, occasioning the 

 suspension of houses of real solidity, that we cannot 

 but hope for a gradual clearance of the clouds in 

 the west, especially as the affairs of India have 

 apparently passed their worst, and the Funds already 

 show symptoms of returning confidence. Though 

 the inquiry for seed has served to give value to the 

 better kinds of wheat, the counter-influence has 

 prevailed, and a decline of about 6s. or /s. per qr. 

 has ensued in the London market, with great 

 difficulty to place at the reduction. Nearly half 

 the fall was mainly to be attributed to a report that 

 the French government, contrary to a recgnt decree, 

 was about to permit the exportation of flour ; but 

 it appears this is not the case at prese't, the request 

 made to government being only that an export of 

 flour may be permitted, equivalent to the import of 

 foreign wheat. The present depression may, 

 therefore, give place to some reaction. American 

 shipments hitherto have been moderate the whole 

 month of September, exports at New York com- 

 prising but 65,000 qrs. wheat, and 71,562 brls. 

 flour, and the derangement of money matters 

 prevents free expeditions from the interior ; this, 

 together with the certainty of winter's rapid ap- 

 proach, which must block the canals, will limit 

 supplies to the railways, and tend to delay any 

 heavy exports till spring. Should this be the case, 

 time will be given to both countries to feel the 

 serious deficiency of the potato crop, and to recover 

 from financial difficulties, when those who have 

 been able to hold over their produce may realize 

 better prices. Excepting France and the Danube, 

 there is at present no country in Europe wliose 

 markets are prepared at present to meet English 

 quotations ; but should increased pressure prevail 



in Northern Europe, where there is a good crop, 

 the best means will doubtless be used to send as 

 much as possible, before the close of the Baltic by 

 frost. The country markets have not been equally 

 sensitive with those of London, and the state of 

 the general averages for the past month shows but 

 a moderate reduction, commencing at 57s. 6d. and 

 closing at 55s. lOd. ; but so great was the de- 

 pression in London on the 26th, that this latter 

 price was very little beyond the biddings made for 

 the best white samples. 



There has been lately a falling off in the deliveries, 

 indicating some resistance to the decline in 

 prices, the last three weeks showing 32,298 qrs. 

 less sold than in 1856 at the same period. Prices 

 in France, with everything unfavourable to growers, 

 seem to have passed their lowest, the quotations at 

 Paris being 29 francs to 31 francs per sack for 

 wheat, equalling 44s, 3d. to 46s. 6d. per qr., and 

 the top price of flour there was about 35s. per 

 sack English. The best wheat at Galatz was 35s. 

 per qr., but the addition of 15s. per qr. freight and 

 expenses brings the price to 50s. At Odessa 

 prices had materially risen in consequence of short 

 arrivals through unfavourable weather. Ghirka 

 wheat there was worth 49s. 6d. per qr., and the 

 best Polish 50s. The inferior wheat of Egypt was 

 quoted 34s. per qr. free on board at Alexandria. 

 Prices though greatly reduced in Spain, were still 

 high for that country, the quotations at Valladolid 

 being 57s. 3d., and fine home-made flour at 

 Santander has lately sold at about 56s. per sack 

 English. At Antwerp red wheat was worth 50s. ; 

 white 54s.; Hambro' quotes 53s., and so does 

 Rostock for red ; Dantzic as yet has received but 

 scanty supplies of the new crop, prices being about 

 54s. to 56s, per qr. Stettin was dull by last 

 accounts, for prime red at 49s. 3d. At Petersburg 

 fine wheat was held at about 52s. per qr. Algiers 

 not l)eing well supplied, and having a demand from 

 Marseilles for the fulfilment of former contracts, 

 quoted 49s. 6d. for hard wheat. The unsettled 

 state of commercial affairs in America has made 

 quotations unreliable, but the last advices from 

 New York noted some improvement in good Vi'heat, 

 the best white Southern being quoted 1 dol. 20 c. 

 to 1 dol. 42 c. per bush. = 41s. 3d. to 49s. per qr. 

 At Toronto rates varied from 4s. to 5s. 6d. per bush., 

 farmers being very reluctant to accept the rates. 



The first Monday commenced on moderate sup- 



